Srinagar, Aug 20: In an example of gross negligence by Wildlife authorities, a Hangul (Kahmir stag) which was shifted to newly set up Breeding Center at Tral, in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district, was mauled to death by a leopard within 24 hours of the inauguration of the facility set up for captive reproduction of the animal. 
     Sources told Greater Kashmir that the beast had entered into the Hangul Conservation Breeding Center at Shikargah and killed the fawn during the intervening night of August 18/19. Major portion of his corpse was eaten by the leopard before the remains were traced by the staff members early morning on Friday. State Minister for Forests and Wildlife, Mian Altaf had inaugrated the center on August 18. 
     The incident has put authorities concerned in dock over the negligence particularly when the program is yet to take of fully.
     Sources said the four months old Hangul was rescued from Dachigam Wildlife National Park here three months ago and shifted to the center for captive breeding project. 
     The multi-crore project funded by Central Zoo Authority of India is aimed at increasing the population of Hangul commonly known as Hangul, the only surviving species of the Red Deer family in the sub-continent. The animal is struggling for survival in the slopes of the Dachigam Park here, the last surviving habitat of Hangul.
     Authorities have no firm response to how the beast entered into the Center which is protected with thick orchard wiring, installed with live electric wires to prevent entry of any foreign element.
     “It is not a forest area but a small chunk of protected land. The incident highlights the negligence of the authorities. The center has been functional for just some days and such a tragic incident took place. What will be the fate of the entire program,” an official told Greater Kashmir. It should be thoroughly probed and responsibilities should be fixed to ensure no such incident takes place in future, he said.
     “It was an unfortunate accident,” a senior Wildlife official associated with the project said. He insisted that the animal was kept in the center for last 20 days.
     Asked how the incident had then taken place, he said the leopard might have climbed a nearby tree and then jumped into the center and killed the fawn. 
     Officials said to kick start the breeding program it would require at least five female and two male animals (Hangul).
     The Rs 2 crore project will be implemented in two phases. The first phase has been almost completed under which around Rs 57 lakh have been spent so far.
     The official said infrastructure (for protection of the animals) is in place at the center though the work is still going on. 
     State government and the Wildlife authorities have been asserting of putting efforts not only to preserve the animal through different programs but also see the Hangul population increases fast.
     However a latest survey carried out recently by the Department of Wildlife Protection in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India has revealed that the Hangul population has grown by 43 animals to 218 in comparison to last survey conducted in 2009. 
          “The average raw count of the Hangul was estimated to be 218±13.96. The numbers although showing an increasing trend from 2009, however, is not to be considered a significant increase in the population of Hangul,” the study had highlighted.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 20 Aug 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 20 Aug 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 21 Aug 2011 00:00:00 IST