While conservationists have doubts over a possible rise in the stag population, the state forest department looks hopeful
The forest department of Jammu and Kashmir is getting ready to carry out a census in March of the highly endangered hangul, which also happens to be the state animal. The hangul can only be found in J&K. In fact, it was the 2015 census of the animal, which estimated their number to be just 186, that sounded the alarm bell in terms of their rapidly declining count.
While forest department officials predict a rise in their numbers citing a slew of conservation measures, conservationists have expressed their doubts over these claims.
"We are currently conducting orientation and intense training sessions for the forest staff as well as volunteers to train them in taking readings and on other technical aspects of carrying out a census. Most likely, we plan to begin the census on March 10. If everything falls into place, the entire process will be over in three days," said Tahir Shawl, Wildlife Warden, Dachigam National Park, adding that they were hopeful that the numbers would be more than the previous census.
Shawl said the department will the census using the line transect method, and has sought involvement of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII). "We have asked for their expertise and have also requested them to help us with camera traps, apart from the other logistics that they might make available to us. Even our expertise would also be put into service in various areas for the census," he said.
According to forest department officials, the census that will involve over 350 people, including the forest staff and volunteers, will not only cover Dachigam National Park but also other important areas that are known to be hangul habitats. "Our staff and volunteers will be covering several hangul habitats as well as other areas where their population has been spotted. The census will cover areas from Khrew, Khonmoh, Shikargarh as well as several other conservation reserves across Kashmir," he said.
As per experts, not very long ago, the Kasmir stag or hangul was also found in the bordering areas of Himachal Pradesh. "There are several reasons for its decline — hunting and habitat destruction being the prime ones. Also, the summer grazing grounds of these beautiful deer have been taken away by shepherds who graze large flocks of sheep — an issue that is yet to be resolved by the state government despite the forest department issuing several notices to the grazers," said a conservationist, who did not wish to be named.
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