Srinagar: The wildlife department of Jammu and Kashmir is carrying out a census of the critically endangered hangul, which also happens to be the erstwhile state animal.
The hangul can only be found in J&K. In fact, it was the 2015 census of the animal, which estimated their number to be just 186, sounded the alarm bell in terms of their rapidly declining count.
While wildlife department officials predict a rise in their numbers citing a slew of conservation measures.
"We are starting the census today in Dachigam National Park. The process will be completed by April 10, 2021. The park will remain closed for visitors till the process is completed," said Rashid Naqash, Regional Wildlife Officer, adding that they were hopeful that the numbers would be more than the previous census.
He said the department will conduct the census using the line transect method and has sought the involvement of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).
"We have asked for their expertise and have also requested them to help us with camera traps, apart from the other logistics that they might make available to us," he said.
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According to forest department officials, the census that will involve around 350 people, including volunteers, will not only cover Dachigam National Park but also other important areas that are known to be hangul habitats.
"We are not doing census but the NGOs and volunteers will be covering several hangul habitats as well as other areas where their population has been spotted. The department will only facilitate the whole process to maintain transparency. The census will cover areas from Khrew, Khonmoh, Shikargarh as well as several other conservation reserves across Kashmir," he said.
In the last census which was conducted in 2019, he said, they had recorded a population of 237 Hanguls and it had increased from the past.
