Wildlife experts are worried about the stagnant population of the hangul or the Kashmir red stag, a sub-species of the elk. It is the state animal of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and listed as a critically endangered animal by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Conservation strategies were put in place but have not succeeded in increasing its numbers. Is a change of strategy needed?
Wildlife expert Mansoor Nabi, who is currently associated with the Himalayan Brown Bear Trust as a project coordinator in Ladakh, says that in 2003 a hangul census revealed that its population was just 150. Alarmed, the Department of Wildlife grew serious about its conservation. Subsequently, from 2009 onwards, a hangul census was carried out every two years. It was carried out this year too.