Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, Jan 2: The population of the Kashmiri stag, or Hangul, is showing a steady and encouraging rise, driven largely by a conservation breeding centre in the Tral area of Pulwama district, which wildlife officials describe as the most effective intervention to revive the species after decades of decline.
Officials say the Hangul Conservation Breeding Centre has emerged as a key intervention in reversing decades of decline by ensuring higher survival of fawns and improving recruitment into the wild population.
The 2025 census shows the population has increased from 289 in 2023 to 323, reflecting sustained conservation efforts and improved ecological and security conditions. “The biggest project to increase the population of Hangul is the conservation breeding center,” said Wildlife Warden for Shopian and Pulwama, Suhail Ahmad Magray. He said the facility was designed to address one of the main reasons for the species’ decline: low fawn survival due to predation and disturbance.
The center, spread over 2.5 hectares, houses Hangul in a controlled environment protected by chain-link and power fencing, along with tin cladding to prevent entry by predators such as leopards and feral dogs.
A carefully balanced ratio of males and females is maintained to support breeding. Once the fawns grow to a stage where their risk from predators reduces, they are released into the wild to strengthen the natural population.
“This controlled breeding helps minimise threats during the most vulnerable stage of the Hangul’s life cycle. Once released as sub-adults, their chances of survival in the wild are much higher,” Magray added.
The breeding programme is part of a wider conservation push in the Dachigam landscape, the Hangul’s last stronghold. Authorities have recently upgraded the Tral landscape from a conservation reserve to a full-fledged wildlife sanctuary, bringing larger forest areas under legal protection. Habitat improvement measures such as the creation of water holes, winter feeding, fodder plots, and reduced human disturbance have also been introduced.
After decades of decline, the rebound marks a milestone not seen in over 30 years. The Hangul population stood at an estimated 2,000 in 1947 but fell sharply to 384 by 1968. The situation worsened in the 1990s, dropping to as low as 140-160 animals, largely due to habitat loss and security-related disturbances.
The Hangul, the animal of Jammu and Kashmir, is a Central Asian red deer species found mainly in Dachigam National Park, a 141-square-kilometer protected area near Srinagar. Once thought to be a subspecies of the European red deer, it was designated a distinct species in 2017 and is listed as critically endangered by the IUCN.
Scientists warn that, despite recent gains, the species remains at risk due to its restricted habitat, making continued protection and scientific management crucial for its long-term survival. “Although the uptick in numbers is encouraging, we need to be cautious and continuously work towards its conservation,” an expert said.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
