An animal which has been the pride of Kashmir and used to be going around the riverine forests, high valleys and mountains of the valley roaming freely from Kishtwar to Gurez is on the list of an endangered species. The animal is called Hangul, the Kashmiri Stag (Cervus hanglu hanglu). It is the national animal of Jammu and Kashmir.
It is the red dear species of Central Asia formerly thought to be a sub-species of the European red deer but in 2017 it was designated as a separate species. According to Dr Khursheed Ahmad of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKAUST) an expert on this subject, this deer is genetically closer to Bukhara and Yarkand deer but with a color difference. Hangul’s are herbivores, feeding on leaves, flowers shoots and horse chest nuts called Han in local language. Their name Hangul apparently comes from that only. At present most of them are living in the Dachigam National Park located at the foothills of Zabarwan forests. There are a small number in Tral wildlife sanctuary also.
Hanguls are usually of a greyish-dark brown color, paler at sides and inner and lower sides of legs. They get darker during winters owing to denser growth of hairs. Males are larger than females weighing between 150 -170 Kgs, females around 110-170 Kgs. Their life span is estimated to be around 20 years. Male hanguls have antlers that can have up to 16 points, the more the number of points more dominating is the animals. They shed these antlers in the months of March-April. These are then regrown a few months later and become hardened by the time of their mating season in September-October. Antlers make the males sexually attractive for the females and also are used to fight off the competitors. The Hangul pregnancy last for 6 to 7 months and the female gives birth to one fawn around May – June. Twin births are a rarity.
Hanguls are not easy to spot because of their small numbers and their color in the forests. However, during the mating season, they become easier to spot because of lot of activity and the calls of the males which sound like roars. In general males stay aloof whereas females are in groups of up to 15-18 animals. Outside the mating season the animals tend to be quiet and elusive. One has to be very patient and persistent to have a look from close. During winter months they come down closer to the trail in search of food and water near the Dachigam stream. The author has had the opportunity to have a glimpse of it during one of his several visits to the park.
The Dwindling Numbers:
Before the independence of India in Maharaja’s Kashmir Hangul used to be seen in larger numbers of 3,000 to 4000. But their numbers have been progressively coming down due to habitat destructions and poaching. In addition, the ecological pressures from low breeding, a female preponderance and low calf survival. The overgrazing of the sheep by herds of Bakarwals reaching there because of deforestation in the lower altitude forests has also contributed to this issue.
Their numbers came down to only 150 in 1970, which alerted the authorities. J & K government, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) joined together with the project “Save Hangul”. This brought up their population up gradually but steadily. The traditional breeding areas of the Hangul at present is upper Dachigam which is now largely occupied by Gujar shepherds and their dogs in summer. The current number is 289. However, the efforts are not aggressive. The authorities are merely spreading salt in the national park throughout the year and supplying fodder during the harsh winter months. Conservation initiatives like increasing their mating and make special areas as farms to reduce the loss of the newborns are needed for this.
Tailpiece:
Hangul, a species of red dear is a beautiful animal native of Kashmir and has similarities with the Yarkand and Bukhara deer. Its habitat in riverine forests, high valleys and mountains is being threatened because of ecological imbalance and also encroachments. The numbers have substantially come down from nearly 4,000 in Maharaja’s Kashmir to just 150 in 1970 when it was recognized. Efforts are being made by the authorities in collaboration with international authorities like IUCN and WWF. Although the numbers have modestly increased much more needs to be done to prevent the National animal of J&K and one of our heritages from getting extinct.
Prof Upendra Kaul, Founder Director
Gauri Kaul Foundation