Kashmir stag

The Kashmir stag (Cervus canadensis hanglu), also called hangul, is a subspecies of elk native to Kashmir. It is found in dense riverine forests in the high valleys and mountains of the Kashmir Valley and northern Chamba district in Himachal Pradesh. In Kashmir, it is found in the Dachigam National Park where it receives protection but elsewhere it is more at risk. In the 1940s, the population was between 3000 and 5000 individuals, but since then habitat destruction, over-grazing by domestic livestock and poaching have reduced population dramatically. Earlier believed to be a subspecies of red deer (Cervus elaphus), a number of mitochondrial DNA genetic studies have revealed that the hangul is part of the Asian clade of the elk (Cervus canadensis).[2][3][4][5] The IUCN, however, includes it in the new grouping of Central Asian red deer (Cervus hanglu), with the Kashmir stag being the type subspecies (Cervus hanglu hanglu). According to the census in 2019, there were only 237 Hanguls.[6]

Kashmir stag
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Cervidae
Subfamily: Cervinae
Genus: Cervus
Species:
C. canadensis
Subspecies:
C. c. hanglu
Trinomial name
Cervus canadensis hanglu

Appearance

This deer has a light rump patch without including the tail. Its coat color is brown with a speckling to the hairs. The inner sides of the buttocks are greyish white, followed by a line on the inner sides of the thighs and black on the upper side of the tail. Each antler consists of five tines. The beam is strongly curved inward, while the brow and bez tines are usually close together and above the burr.[7]

Distribution and ecology

This deer lives in groups of two to 18 individuals in dense riverine forests, high valleys, and mountains of the Kashmir valley and northern Chamba in Himachal Pradesh. In Kashmir, it's found in the Dachigam National Park (and its nearby areas at elevations of 3,035 meters), Rajparian Wildlife Sanctuary, Overa Aru, Sind Valley, and in the forests of Kishtwar & Bhaderwah.

Threats and conservation

These deer once numbered from about 5,000 animals in the beginning of the 20th century. Unfortunately, they were threatened, due to habitat destruction, over-grazing by domestic livestock, and poaching. This dwindled to as low as 150 animals by 1970. However, the state of Jammu & Kashmir, along with the IUCN and the WWF prepared a project for the protection of these animals. It became known as Project Hangul. This brought great results and the population increased to over 340 by 1980.

Much of the earlier published material was by the distinguished E. P. Gee, a member of the Bombay Natural History Society. Shortly before the expedition was mounted, Fiona Guinness and Tim Clutton-Brock, both noted deer experts, had visited Kashmir and had gathered some useful field data, which confirmed that Hangul numbers were at a dangerously low level. The traditional breeding grounds of the hangul deer is upper danchigam, which is now occupied by Gujar shepherds and their dogs in summer (refer the book a life with wildlife by M.K.Ranjitsinh)

The animal is battling for its survival in its last bastion: they are now scattered within 141 km2 of the Dachigam National Park located on foothills of Zabarwan range on the outskirts of Srinagar. Known for its magnificent antlers with 11 to 16 points, hangul was once distributed widely in the mountains of Kashmir. During the 1940s, their number was believed to be about 3,000-5,000. In the year 2004 there were 197 (sex ratio of 19 for 100 females and 23 fawns for 100 females) Hanguls which reduced to 153 in 2006 (sex ratio of 21 males for 100 females and 9 fawns for 100 females).[6] As per the census in 2008, only around 160 exist. In 2015,the Hangul population estimation exercise was conducted in which the count of Hanguls in and around their habitats in Kashmir valley is just 186.[8] There are plans to breed them in captivity to increase their chances of survival.[9]

A survey in 2019 conducted by collaring the hangul has revealed that the species is no longer confined within the walls of Dachigam National Park. The endangered species has now began to use an old migratory route which spread through Sind Valley up to Tulail in Gurez Valley. The corridor was last known to be active in the early 1900s.[10]

Population
YearTotal countMales per 100 femalesFawns per 100 femalesnotes
20041971923[6]
2006153219[6]
2008127--[6]
20091752627[6]
20112182925[6]
20151862214[6]
20172141619[6]
201923715.57.5[6]

References
  1. "Cervus hanglu ssp. hanglu (Hanglu, Kashmir Red Deer, Kashmir Stag)". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
  2. Brook, S.M., Pluháček, J., Lorenzini, R., Lovari, S., Masseti, M. & Pereladova, O. (2016). "Cervus canadensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T55997823A55997871. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-2.RLTS.T55997823A55997871.en.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  3. Randi, Ettore; Mucci, Nadia; Claro-Hergueta, Françoise; Bonnet, Amélie; Douzery, Emmanuel J. P. (2001). "A mitochondrial DNA control region phylogeny of the Cervinae: speciation in Cervus and implications for conservation". Animal Conservation. 4 (1): 1–11. doi:10.1017/s1367943001001019.
  4. Pitra, Christian; Fickel, Joerns; Meijaard, Erik; Groves, P. Colin (2004). "Evolution and phylogeny of old world deer". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 33 (3): 880–895. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2004.07.013. PMID 15522810.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  5. Groves, Colin (2006). "The genus Cervus in eastern Eurasia" (PDF). European Journal of Wildlife Research. 52: 14–22. doi:10.1007/s10344-005-0011-5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-06-29. Retrieved 2014-08-02.
  6. "Latest census shows alarming decrease in Hangul population composition". Greater Kashmir. 18 July 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  7. "Dachigam Management Plan pdf" (PDF). www.jkwildlife.com. Retrieved 2019-01-30.
  8. "Hangul population in Kashmir has declined: JK govt". India Today.
  9. "Most Viewed Business News Articles, Top News Articles". The Economic Times.
  10. Ashiq, Peerzada (2018-12-29). "Forays of the Kashmir stag". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2019-02-06.
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