Introduction to Kashmiri Hangul UPSC

Welcome to PreCrack! Recently, Kashmir’s Hangul, which is also known as  Kashmiri Hangul, Kashmiri Stag or Red Deer in Kashmir, was in news because of a great reproduction and increase in the population of this endangered species of deer in India.

Why Kashmiri Hangul is in the news? – UPSC Current Affairs – Recent News – Latest Updates

The Kashmiri Hangul, which is a critically endangered deer species, was recently made headlines due to a promising hike in population signaled by robust mating calls during the rutting season.

Details about Kashmiri Hangul (Kashmir Stag / Kashmiri Red Deer)

We have added a complete details about Kashmiri Hangul / Kashmir’s Hangul Below-

About Kashmiri Hangul

The Kashmir stag, locally known as hangul, is a unique subspecies of Central Asian red deer found in Kashmir and neighboring regions. Inhabitants of dense forests, notably in Dachigam National Park and Tral Wildlife Sanctuary, their population, once 3000-5000 in the 1940s, declined due to habitat loss, overgrazing, and poaching. Kashmiri Hangul are biggest deer species in Asia.

Scientific Facts about Kashmiri Hangul

We have added all scientific facts about kashmiri Hangul below-

Scientific Name

The scientific name of the Kashmir stag, commonly known as hangul, is Cervus hanglu hanglu, a distinctive subspecies of the Central Asian red deer found in the Kashmir region.

Other Scientific Facts

The Kashmir stag, scientifically known as Cervus hanglu hanglu, belongs to the family Cervidae. It is classified under the class Mammalia, order Artiodactyla, and subfamily Cervinae.

Within the Cervinae subfamily, it falls under the genus Cervus. The specific species designation is C. hanglu, with the subspecies identified as C. h. hanglu. As a mammal within the deer family, its endangered status emphasizes the importance of conservation efforts to protect and preserve this unique member of the Central Asian red deer species.

Distribution / Range

The Kashmir stag, or hangul, thrives in the dense riverine forests, high valleys, and mountains of the Kashmir Valley and northern Chamba in Himachal Pradesh. These unique deer form groups ranging from two to 18 individuals.

Predominantly found in specific regions of Kashmir, including Dachigam National Park at elevations of 3,035 meters, Rajparian Wildlife Sanctuary, Overa Aru, Sind Valley, and the forests of Kishtwar & Bhaderwah.

Their distribution reflects a preference for elevated terrains and protected areas, emphasizing the need for conservation measures to ensure their survival in these specific regions.

Ecology

The ecology of the Kashmiri Hangul is fascinating and plays a crucial role in maintaining the health of its mountain ecosystem. Here’s a breakdown of its ecological aspects:

Habitat

• Hanguls prefer dense riverine forests with a mix of deciduous trees, coniferous trees, and open areas like meadows and grasslands.
• They are high-altitude dwellers, typically found between 1600-4000 meters above sea level.
• They exhibit seasonal movements, migrating to higher altitudes during summers for cooler temperatures and greener pastures, and descending to lower regions during harsh winters for shelter and food availability.

Diet

As herbivores, Hanguls play a vital role in seed dispersal and vegetation control.

Their diet mainly consists of:

• Grasses
• Herbs
• Leaves
• Bark
• Twigs

They are selective feeders, choosing nutritious and palatable plant parts.

Social Structure

Hanguls exhibit a matriarchal social structure.

• Females form groups of 2-18 individuals, typically consisting of mothers, daughters, and sisters. These groups are led by the dominant female, who plays a crucial role in decision-making like movement and grazing locations.
• Males are generally solitary except during the breeding season (September-October) when they compete for females by roaring, fighting, and displaying their antlers.

Ecological Importance

Hanguls contribute to a healthy ecosystem by:

• Seed dispersal: Their movement helps disperse seeds through their droppings, which promotes plant regeneration and biodiversity.
• Vegetation control: Their grazing helps maintain healthy vegetation by preventing certain plants from becoming dominant and allowing other species to thrive.
• Food source: They are a crucial prey species for various predators like snow leopards, Himalayan black bears, and wolves, maintaining a balanced predator-prey relationship.

Previously, the Hangul was classified as:

Subspecies of Cervus elaphus (European red deer) based on morphological similarities.

However, genetic studies revealed distinct genetic differences between the Hangul and the European red deer, leading to the current classification as a separate species, Cervus hanglu, with the Hangul being the type subspecies, Cervus hanglu hanglu.

Furthermore, Cervus hanglu encompasses three subspecies:

• Cervus hanglu hanglu (Kashmir Stag) – Found in Kashmir and surrounding areas
• Cervus hanglu yarkandensis (Yarkand Red Deer) – Found in the Yarkand-Tarim region (Xinjiang, China)
• Cervus hanglu bactrianus (Bactrian Red Deer) – Found in the Bukhara region (Uzbekistan)

However, the Yarkand Red Deer and Bactrian Red Deer are classified as Least Concern by the IUCN, while the Kashmir Stag is Critically Endangered, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect this unique subspecies.

Behaviour

The behavior of the Kashmiri Hangul is fascinating and can be broadly categorized into their:

Daily Activities

• Diurnal (active during the day): Hanguls are most active during the day, typically grazing, resting, and socializing in the mornings and afternoons. They spend nights huddled together for warmth and protection.
• Seasonal movements: As mentioned earlier, they exhibit seasonal movements, migrating to higher altitudes in summers and descending to lower regions in winters.
• Communication: They use a variety of vocalizations to communicate, including:
• Roaring: Males use loud roars, especially during the breeding season, to attract mates and warn rivals.
• Barking: Both males and females bark as an alarm call or when feeling threatened.
• Bellowing: Females use bellows to call their young.
• Snorting: Used to express aggression or discomfort.
• Senses: They rely heavily on their acute sense of smell and hearing for foraging, avoiding predators, and social interactions.

Social Behavior

• Matriarchal society: As mentioned, females form herds of 2-18 individuals led by a dominant female. These herds exhibit strong social bonds and cooperative behavior, especially in raising young.
• Solitary males: Males are generally solitary except during the breeding season (September-October). They compete fiercely for breeding rights through roaring, fighting, and displaying their antlers.
• Parental care: Females are responsible for raising their young, called fawns. Fawns are born in May or June and remain with their mothers for about a year, learning essential survival skills.

Defensive Behavior

• Flight: When threatened, Hanguls prefer to flee and hide due to their herbivorous nature.
• Fighting: Males may engage in fights during the breeding season to establish dominance and access to females.
• Alarm calls: They use barking as an alarm call to alert others in the group of potential danger.

Other Interesting Behaviors

• Salt licks: Hanguls, like many deer species, are attracted to natural salt licks and mineral deposits, which provide essential nutrients.
• Marking territory: Males may mark their territory using urine and scent glands during the breeding season.
• Playful behavior: Especially young fawns engage in playful behavior, which is important for their development and social learning.

Reproduction

The reproduction of the Kashmiri Hangul is crucial for the survival of this critically endangered species. Here’s a breakdown of their reproductive cycle:

Breeding Season

• The breeding season for Hanguls occurs in September-October.
• During this time, males become more territorial and aggressive, competing for mates through roaring contests, fights, and displaying their impressive antlers.

Mating

• The dominant male in a particular area will breed with several females in his harem.
• Mating typically occurs after a chase and a brief display of dominance by the male.

Gestation

• Pregnancy lasts for approximately 6-8 months.

Fawning

• Females typically give birth to one fawn, although twins are rarely possible.
• Fawns are born in May-June, usually in secluded areas with good cover for protection.
• Fawns are precocial, meaning they can stand and walk shortly after birth. However, they remain hidden in vegetation for several weeks while the mother grazes nearby, returning to nurse them.

Parental Care

• Females are solely responsible for raising their young.
• Fawns are weaned at around 6 months old but may stay with their mothers for up to a year, learning essential survival skills like foraging and predator avoidance.

Sexual Maturity

• Females typically reach sexual maturity at around 2 years old.
• Males mature slightly later, at around 3 years old.

Challenges to Reproduction

• Habitat loss and fragmentation can disrupt natural breeding grounds and make it difficult for Hanguls to find mates.
• Poaching can also significantly impact reproduction by reducing the number of breeding adults.
• Inbreeding within small, isolated populations can lead to genetic problems and reduced reproductive success.

Threats to the Kashmiri Hangul

The Kashmiri Hangul faces several significant threats that contribute to its critically endangered status. Here’s a breakdown of the major threats:

Habitat Loss and Fragmentation

• Encroachment: Human activities like infrastructure development, expansion of settlements, and livestock grazing are encroaching upon and fragmenting Hangul habitats. This reduces available space and resources for the deer population.
• Deforestation: Logging and unsustainable resource extraction practices are leading to deforestation, destroying vital forests and altering the ecosystem balance needed for Hangul survival.

Poaching

• Illegal hunting: The antlers of Hanguls are prized in traditional medicine and trophy hunting, making them vulnerable to poaching activities. This illegal practice significantly impacts the Hangul population.

Competition with Livestock

• Overgrazing: Excessive grazing by domestic livestock like sheep and goats competes with Hanguls for food resources, especially in high-altitude meadows during summers, impacting their ability to thrive.

Other Threats

• Diseases: Outbreaks of diseases like foot-and-mouth disease and anthrax can spread quickly among Hanguls due to their social living and can devastate their population.
• Climate Change: Rising temperatures and changing weather patterns can negatively impact Hangul habitats and food availability, posing additional threats to their long-term survival.

These intertwined threats create a complex challenge for Hangul conservation. Addressing these issues requires a multi-pronged approach, including:

1. Habitat protection: Implementing stricter regulations and establishing protected areas to safeguard existing Hangul habitats.
2. Anti-poaching measures: Increasing enforcement efforts to combat poaching through stricter penalties and community awareness programs.
3. Livestock management: Implementing responsible grazing practices and exploring alternative grazing areas to reduce competition with Hanguls.
4. Disease control: Developing and implementing disease surveillance and control programs to protect Hangul populations.
5. Habitat restoration: Initiating reforestation efforts and restoring degraded areas to create a more sustainable ecosystem for Hanguls.

Conservation Status of Hangul

The conservation status of the Kashmiri Hangul is dire, with international recognition of its critical endangerment. Here’s a breakdown:

• IUCN Red List: The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species classifies the Hangul as Critically Endangered. This is the highest threat category, indicating an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild.
• Schedule I: In India, the Hangul is listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. This offers the highest level of legal protection within the country.
• Population Decline: The Hangul population has seen a drastic decline in recent decades. Estimates suggest a population as low as 263 adult individuals based on the 2021 census by the Department of Wildlife Protection, J&K. This is a significant decrease compared to historical estimates of several thousand individuals.

Details about Dachigam National Park

Dachigam National Park is a beautiful and vital protected area located in the Zabarwan Range of the Himalayas, roughly 22 kilometers (14 miles) east of Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, India. Established in 1910 with the primary purpose of safeguarding Srinagar’s clean drinking water supply, it was designated a national park in 1981.

The Name’s Origin

The park’s name, Dachigam, literally translates to “ten villages” in Kashmiri. This refers to the ten villages that were relocated from the area in the early 20th century to create the park.

Geography and Habitat

Dachigam National Park encompasses a region of roughly 141 square kilometers (54 square miles). The park boasts a diverse landscape, ranging from gently sloping meadows at lower elevations to towering peaks exceeding 4,000 meters (13,000 feet) above sea level. Lush riverine forests, dense coniferous stands, and beautiful alpine pastures characterize the park’s vegetation.

Rich Biodiversity

Dachigam National Park is a haven for a diverse range of flora and fauna. The park’s most prominent and critically endangered resident is the Hangul, or Kashmir stag, the last viable population of which resides within the park boundaries.

Other noteworthy mammals found in the park include the Himalayan black bear, leopard, musk deer, red fox, Himalayan weasel, and various species of rodents.

The park is a birdwatcher’s paradise, with over 140 species of birds recorded, including resident and migratory birds. Common birds include pheasants, grey tits, Kashmir nuthatches, finches, and owls.

Threats and Conservation Efforts

Dachigam National Park has faced numerous challenges over the years, including habitat loss due to encroachment and poaching. Conservation efforts are underway to address these threats and ensure the park’s long-term health. These initiatives include:

• Strengthening anti-poaching measures
• Implementing stricter regulations on activities within the park boundaries
• Promoting community awareness about the park’s significance
• Habitat restoration programs

Visiting Dachigam National Park

Dachigam National Park is open to visitors throughout the year, although the ideal time to visit is between April and August. Visitors can obtain permits online or at the wildlife department office near Dal Lake in Srinagar. Due to conservation concerns, private vehicles are not permitted within the park. Visitors can explore the park on foot or hire a golf cart for guided tours.

Key Facts about Kashmiri Hangul

We have added all considerable key facts about Kashmir’s Hangul below-

FAQs – UPSC Questions on Kashmiri Hangul

Question-1: What is a Hangul?

Answer. The Hangul, also known as the Kashmir Stag, is a subspecies of the Central Asian Red Deer endemic to Kashmir and surrounding areas in India. It is the state animal of Jammu and Kashmir and unfortunately classified as critically endangered.

Question-2: What do Hanguls look like?

Answer. Hanguls have a reddish-brown coat with a distinctive white rump patch. Males boast impressive antlers with up to 16 points, while females lack antlers. They are herbivores and exhibit size differences between genders.

Question-3: Where do Hanguls live?

Answer. Currently, the vast majority of Hanguls are confined to Dachigam National Park in Jammu and Kashmir, with smaller populations in the Tral Wildlife Sanctuary. Historically, their range was much wider across the Kashmir region.

Question-4: What is the behavior of a Hangul?

Answer. Hanguls are diurnal, meaning active during the day. They exhibit seasonal movements and live in social groups. Females form matriarchal herds, while males are generally solitary except during the breeding season. They communicate through vocalizations like roars, barks, and bellows.

Question-5: How do Hanguls reproduce?

Answer. The breeding season for Hanguls occurs in September-October. After a gestation period of around 6-8 months, females give birth to one fawn. Fawns are raised solely by their mothers and learn essential survival skills before becoming independent.

Question-6: Why are Hanguls endangered?

Answer. Habitat loss, poaching, competition with livestock, diseases, and climate change are the major threats pushing Hanguls towards extinction.

Question-7: What is being done to conserve Hanguls?

Answer. Conservation efforts focus on protecting habitats, combating poaching, managing livestock grazing, and implementing disease control programs. Additionally, research on assisted reproductive technologies is being explored for potential future conservation strategies.

Question-8: What is the significance of Hanguls?

Answer. Beyond their majestic beauty, Hanguls play a crucial role in the ecosystem as herbivores, contributing to seed dispersal and vegetation control. Maintaining healthy Hangul populations is vital for the ecosystem’s balance.

Question-9: Can I see Hanguls in the wild?

Answer. While visiting Dachigam National Park offers a chance to potentially spot Hanguls, responsible tourism practices and adherence to park regulations are crucial. Always prioritize the well-being of the animals and their habitat during your visit.

Question-10: What is the conservation status of the Kashmiri Hangul?

Answer. The Kashmiri Hangul is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, reflecting its extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. Additionally, it is listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, offering the highest level of legal protection within India.