Captive breeding to save endangered hangul

SRINAGAR: The statistics are grim. The Kashmir hangul, the only surviving sub-species of the red deer family, is slowly becoming extinct. In fact, as per the latest census report released in March, its population has come down from 228 to 160 in the last four years. This, when in the late 1940s, some 5,000 hangul, also known as Kashmir stag, roamed the Himalayan region.

But succour is in sight. The Central Zoo Authority has come to its rescue and will start a captive breeding programme for this endangered species by the end of the year in the foothills of the Himalayas.

"Hangul is a critically endangered species and has seen a steady decline in population from 2004. This has necessitated captive breeding under the authority's guidance," says Kashmir's wildlife warden, Rashid Naqash.

State wildlife authorities have given a detailed proposal to the authority. "The modalities are being worked out and the breeding will take place in a controlled environment with restricted settings," he says. "The deer would be bred at Shikargah Conservation Reserve in Tral in south Kashmir."

He says this was part of the government's all-out efforts to save the pride of Kashmir. "The hangul has suffered badly ��� we're concerned and worried. Captive breeding is part of long-term measures to save it and prevent its extinction."

This majestic-looking deer with a brownish coat and antlers was once a major attraction at Dachigam ��� a mountainous sanctuary on the outskirts of Srinagar.