The Legitimate Desk Hangul
Kashmir is ecologically a very fragile place in the world. Given to its Himalayan mountainous forest range and fresh glaciers, it has made the landlocked valley extremely vulnerable to external interferences. But we have failed to understand its fragility and continue to disturb the nature in all possible ways to meet our selfish needs. Recently, the group of experts who are studying the environment and ecology across the country were camping in Srinagar to have an interaction with local journalists and stakeholders and sanitize them regarding the environmental degradation in valley.
The group of experts insisted upon the stakeholders and journalists to educate the people with regard to change in climate. Experts revealed that Kashmir is one among the top three places in country which are prone to climatic changes given to its fragile ecology. It was nothing new that experts revealed at the forum. Kashmir had already learnt the bitter lessons in 2014 massive floods.
The floods that devastated infrastructure worth hundreds of crores and washed away half of the valley besides killing over a dozen people cannot be easily forgotten in any responsible society. But we Kashmiris have a history of short psyche impact and easily forget the past to move on in future.
Collectively we may shun the responsibility of saving our flora and fauna and may evade situations of catastrophe at times but it does not bail us out from saving the habitations of animals. In a section of local media, a disturbing report about the declining number of Kashmiri Hangul (Stag) deserves an immediate attention.
In the past crores of rupees have been spent over the maintenance of Dachigham Park for their habitation. But it doesn’t unfortunately show any significance. The Kashmir’s own animal is gradually leading towards its extinction. The odd 200 Hanguls are struggling for its survival.
As per the census conducted by State Department of Wildlife Protection in collaboration with Wildlife Conservation Fund, Wildlife SOS, JKMHC, Wildlife Trust of India, Kashmir University, Central University, SKUAST, FPF and Forest Department besides research Scholars, the population of Hangul is declining. The census revealed that a total of 53 transects were walked and the total number of Hangul encountered were 237. The results show that the Hangul population structure with respect to male-female and female-fawn ratios are skewed. As per the data there were 15.5 males per 100 females and 7.5 fawns per 100 females. The male-female and fawn-female ratios are quite alarming as these ratios are lower than ever.
In the past, most hangul used to spend the summer months, from mid-May to mid-September, in the alpine meadows and sub-alpine conifer forests at altitudes of 3000 m and above in upper Dachigam and perhaps on the upper slopes outside the park. With the onset of cold weather, they would move down to the valley, principally the valley of the Dagwan River in lower Dachigam. Other places they travelled to for the winter were the Sindh valley to the northeast of the park and the Tral and Lidder ranges in the southeast. Experts believe that due to climatic change and encroachment over their spaces have made this animal vulnerable and the space for the movement has shrunk. Though the government in the past have already relocated over 10 villages from the Dachigham hills to widen the spaces for the animal, however, it is to be believed that the survival of Hangul is only possible if Dachigam National Park is expanded to the alpine meadows in upper Dachigam and the nearby areas, as it used to be in the past. This is possible only by providing on a priority basis, under the Hangul Species Recovery plan, alternate grazing areas and livelihood to grazers and others using upper Dachigam and nearby Hangul habitat and involving them in Hangul conservation programmes. This will entail protection and eco-restoration
