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Written by: Bilal Bashir Bhat (Environmentalist)

Category: ENVIRONMENT

Published: 13 March 2017

• “IF NOT NOW THEN WE NEVER SEE IT AGAIN”

Every state has a state Animal, bird and tree which give a special status to that state. In simple words we can say that these animals are of great value and should be protected by our hearts. These animals, birds and tress are described as National heritage or the crown of the state or country. Every State tries hard to protect these state animals so that the number of the population will rise and remain for our future generations. No one of them wanted to remain without the Crown.

Kashmir Stag also popularly known as Hangul, is the only surviving sub-species of the Red Deer family found in the Jammu and Kashmir (Northwest, India) where it is glorified as the state animal. Once found in high altitude regions of Northern India and Pakistan, the Kashmir Stag is now confined to only Dachigam National Park in Kashmir. It has been considered as one of rarest and shyest mammal in the subcontinent since 1950s.

Hangul or the Kashmir Stag was once available in large numbers in the Kashmir valley across India and Pakistan. The initial surveys done in before 1950s revealed the Hangul population to be more than 5000. But a shocking survey in 1957 revealed that only 400 specimens of the Kashmir Stag is surviving in the region. The species immediately got attention and considered as one of the rarest mammal in Indian subcontinent. Despite various efforts, the Hangul population still stands at alarming 220 according to 2011 survey and presently 187 species remained alive. The Kashmir stag is literally on the brink of extinction.

Unfortunately, the subspecies of Red deer has seen a drastic decline in the last 60 years. The population has been reduced to 10% of its estimated population size from six decades ago. A Mid-20th Century red deer census study reported around 2000 mature individuals and now due to shrinking habitat just over 187 deers comprise the extant population. The subspecies is now only found Dachigam National Park, which is often referred to as the abode of hangul.

The current political imbalance of Kashmir, vote banking, lack of interest of the government and the political system, lack of knowledge of the modern technology like Remote sensing and GIS, lack of Funds, overgrazing of cattle into Hangul’s territory, stone and cement querying, illegal poaching and loss of habitat are attributed for the endangered status of the animal. It is currently confined to only Dachigam National Park located on foothills of Zabarwan range of Kashmir. The degradation and loss of habitat from overgrazing and pollution in the periphery of the National Park, along with biotic interferences, are among the main causes for the decreasing population size of this large Asian cervid. The incremental loss suffered by this subspecies of red deer over the years, gives us a clue that it continues to persist, albeit barely as it faces constant environmental stressors and if the present trend continues then in the near decade the subspecies would lost for ever and we hear the name and pictures of this subspecies only in books, posters and Tales.......

Today i.e. 09/03/2017 the Department of wildlife Jammu and Kashmir organised Orientation programme for the census of the Hangul where many school students, volunteers, Scientists, scholars, NGOs attend the meeting at the Dachigam National Interpretation centre (Dachigam National Park) to estimate the actual population of the Hangul. Theses members are giving training by the wildlife department Dachigam related to the use of the various newly technology for the census of the hangul which is going to be conducted on this march 2017 from 22 to 26 so that we can count the real Remaining population of the Hangul (Kashmiri stage). Theses members are divided into groups of three members and a particular transit or path is given to each group so that the whole National Park is covered and the population of the Hangul is counted.

Student volunteers were given a chance to indirectly participate in the hangul census—a scientific exercise intended to determine the number of adult deer, sub adults and juveniles in this dwindling population.  In addition, the volunteers aided the investigators in a study of red deer habitat, geographic range, migration patterns and other critical aspects regarding the ecology of this subspecies. The volunteers were offered an opportunity to practice census work through an orientation program, which included an introduction to the subspecies and sympatric (coexisting) wildlife, along with the use of GPS and other equipment.         

This type of census method will effect on the psychology of the Hangul. Instead of using modern technology like Remote sensing and GIS, cameras, sensors, drones etc. the officials told that they can’t do anything as they have no such a huge resources for the census of the Hangul and this is the only option for them to count the reaming population. The ministers, organisations and other officials should come forward so that we can conserve and preserve the remaining and very little population of this Species before it is lost for ever and remained alive in Books, Posters and in Tales..

Last but Not Least, I Bilal Bashir Bhat are Thankful to all, especially the wildlife department Kashmir (Dachigam), the wildlife Warden, the chief conservatory of forests, SKUAST, DEERS,  and all of those who participated in this orientation programme to make it successful and showed their interest for the census and the conservation of this subspecies of hangul by their hearts. Awareness is a big Conservation so I requested to all that come forward and help this mission to become a successful and meaningful so that our state will remain crowned forever…….