Srinagar, Jan 21: In what could be called as lackadaisical attitude of the Wildlife Department towards protecting an endangered species, a Kashmir stag or Hangul has been apparently poached inside Dachigam National Park here.
 “We have got information that some poachers have sneaked into Dachigam sanctuary from Khanmoh side,” Dachi Gam Wildlife Warden, Rashid Naqash told Greater Kashmir. “Accordingly we alerted our men and laid nakas and siege at vantage points”.
 Naqash said on the midnight of Jan 19, their men noticed a suspicious movement and later chased four persons.
 “All of the poachers fled. However, they left behind a Kashmiri gown (Pheran),” he said, adding, “During the search we recovered four kilograms of Hangul meat. We also recovered an identity card from the site”.
 He said one of the poachers was identified who had actually led a team of four hunters.
 “Their identities have been established by our Khanmoh staff. They would be arrested soon,” Naqash said.
 The police have lodged the case and investigations are on to arrest the hunters.
 Sub Divisional Police Officer, Muzzafar Shah said police had lodged an FIR 4 of 2011 under section 51 clause 1 of JK wildlife act, at police station Harwan.
 “We have sent the seized meat to Wildlife Institute of India for forensic tests,” Shah said. He said the identity card belonged to Gulzar Ahmad Chopan of Khyber Colony Khanmoh. “We have also identified three more of people believed to be his accomplices,” Shah said.
 He said the preliminary investigation had been initiated and a special team had been constituted who would go to Dachigam National Park to assess the crime spot.
 Hangul is on the verge of extinction in Kashmir. Known for its magnificent antlers with 11 to 16 points, Hangul was once distributed widely in the mountains of Kashmir. During early ‘90s, their number was believed to be about 3,000-5,000. According to the population estimation carried by the Department of Wildlife Protection and subsequent analysis by Wildlife Institute of India (WII), the Hangul population has been reduced in between 117 to 190 currently. The Hanguls are now scattered within 141 sq km of the Dachigam National Park.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 21 Jan 2011 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 21 Jan 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 22 Jan 2011 00:00:00 IST