Hangul, The Kashmir Stag News - Rare Kashmiri deer on verge of extinction

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Rare Kashmiri deer on verge of extinction

12 May, 2008,

REUTERS; The Economic Times, Times of India

SRINAGAR: A rare

species of red deer found only in

Jammu & Kashmir is on the verge of extinction, with only 160 animals in

existence, a preliminary census by India's

wildlife authorities showed on Monday.

 

The antlered red deer, commonly

known as the hangul, was once the biggest draw of Dachigam, a mountainous

sanctuary on the outskirts of Srinagar,

where they grazed in thousands decades ago.

 

Rampant poaching, neglect by authorities and a 17-year-old separatist rebellion

in the region took its toll on the population of the majestic-looking deer

which numbered in the region of about 900 in 1989, experts said.

 

" Hangul is a critically endangered

species. There has been a steady decline in the hangul

population from 2004 to 2008, " the census report said.

 

The census was carried out in March this year by Kashmir's

wildlife department and the Wildlife Institute of India. Poachers continue to

kill the deer for its antlers, which fetch a good price on the international

black market.

 

" Hangul hunting continued even during militancy, as the animals come down

to plains in winters, " said Shameem Ahmad, who lives near Dachigam

sanctuary.

 

A K Srivastava, Chief Wildlife Warden of Jammu and Kashmir said apart from a

captive breeding plan, India would launch a Hangul Conservation Plan to preserve

the endangered animal.

" It (hangul) assumes a great significance as the only Asiatic survivor of

the red deer, " the census

report added.

 

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Earth/Flora__Fauna/Rare_Kashmiri_deer_on_ver\

ge_of_extinction/articleshow/3032379.cms

 

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