Tahir Mushtaq
JAMMU, Aug 25: Central Government has approved an Rs 22 crore project under the Species Recovery Project to allow J&K to start a new breading programme to increase the population Hangul (Kashmir Stag), found in Dachigam National Park of Kashmir, the last refuge of the animal in South Asia.
Sources said that Union Ministry of Environment has released Rs 99 lakh for the recovery programme in the first phase for giving new lease of life to the species, on verge of extinction due to habitat destruction in past six decades.
It is pertinent to mention since 1980s, Hangul population has showed marked decrease and eruption of insurgency in 1990 further hit the efforts of the government to save this animal, part of the ancient folklore of Kashmir.
Minister of State for Forests, Shabir Ahmed Khan said that project intends to reduce the habitat degradation and new programme to use genetic engineering to breed the animal is being studied.
“Help of some international agencies working for the animal breeding and rescue is being taken to increase their number through use of scientific methods”, said Khan.
According to the data in 1982, there were 391 Hanguls, which fell to 200 in 1994.
During past two decades, no major effort was made to save them keeping in view the conflict in Jammu and Kashmir, but since 2003, as the situation improved, a major national effort has been launched to save the endangered species. Last census was conducted in 2003, when the number was about 190.
It is important to note here that after 2004, Wild Life Protection department in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) have been regularly monitoring the Hangul population in Dachigam National Park, the last habitat of the great animal in the South Asia.
He said the number has shown some improvement as it was recorded around 153 during 2006 and 127 during 2008. Now, the figure has been put at around 175, showing some positive trend.
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