The Red List | Kashmir Stag (Hangul)

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Once found in high altitude regions of Northern India and Pakistan, the Kashmir Stag is now confined to only Dachigam National Park in Kashmir. It has been considered as one of rarest mammal int he subcontinent since 1950s.

In 1957, a report published by E. P. Gee, considered Hangul as the most endangered species of India along with Asiatic Lion and One Horn Rhino. Unfortunately, it is in the worst conservation state compare to other two currently.

Kashmir Stag is the only surviving asiatic member of the Red Deer family.

Only the male Stags have antlers. Their antlers are very beautiful and can have upto 16 points in it.

Hangul is the state animal of Jammu and Kashmir of India.

The Dachigam National Park has been badly affected by terrorism and Hanguls are killed by terrorists just for meat.

Kashmir Stag. also popularly known as Hangul, is the only surviving sub-species of the Red Deer family in Europe in Indian Subcontinent. Once found in high altitude regions of Northern India and Pakistan, the Kashmir Stag is now confined to only Dachigam National Park in Kashmir. It has been considered as one of rarest mammal int he subcontinent since 1950s.

The Scientific Name: Cervus elaphus hanglu

Where is it found?

Hangul or the Kashmir Stag was once available in large number in the Kashmir valley across present day India and Pakistan. The initial surveys done in before 1950s revealed the Hangul population to be more than 5000. But a shocking survey published by E. P. Gee in 1957 revealed that only 400 specimens of the Kashmir Stag is surviving in the region. The species immediately got attention and considered as one of the rarest mammal in Indian subcontinent. Despite various efforts, the Hangul population still stands at alarming 220 according to 2011 survey. The current political imbalance of Kashmir, overgrazing of cattle into Hangul’s territory, loss of habitat are attributed for the Endangered status of the animal. It is currently confined to only Dachigam National Park located on foothills of Zabarwan range of Kashmir.

The Hangul prefers dense riverine forests, high valleys, and mountains of the Kashmir valley as their habitat. Dachigam National Park has been serving refuge for last 50 years now. Their territory is very limited now, no new territory available to expand.

How does it live?

Hangul is a social animal and found in group of 2 to 18. Their society is matriarchal. The rutting season for the Hangul is in autumn, from mid September to mid October. They come down to the Lower Dachigam region during this time and stay there for the winter season and till the calves are born. The arrival of the rutting season is heralded by the loud roar of the male stag in challenge to any other stag and establishment of its territory with its harem of hinds. These stags desert the hinds at the end of the rutting season and the calves are born in Spring, late May or early June. The calves reach maturity at the age of three years. The herd migrates to the higher Dachigam region with the coming summer season. The main diet for Kashmir stag consists of leaves, twigs and grasses. The deer can live upto 15-18 years.

How does it look?

The Kashmir Stag is a very handsome member of the Red deer species. It has a light rump patch without including the tail. Hanguls coat color is brown with a speckling to the hairs. The inner sides of the buttocks are grayish white, followed by a line on the inner sides of the thighs and black on the upper side of the tail. Each antler consists of five tines. The beam is strongly curved inward, while the brow and bez tines are usually close together and above the burr.

The Hangul can grow upto 120-140 cm in height to the shoulder and weigh upto 150-180 kg (330-400 lb).

Articles on Kashmir Stag (Hangul)

  • 24 Comments For This Post

    1. nikhil Says:

      we have to save them

    2. Mehraj Says:

      Few Hanguls left… Make effective measures to save them. I am also trying to save them..

    3. M.S.Rather Says:

      I love them.all efforts should be made to save them

    4. nikhil Says:

      this red deer need to be saved,breeding them in captivity will insure their survival

    5. Sanjay Says:

      Kashmiri Hangul & Kashmiri Pandit both are on the verge to extinguish ..& which extinguish go to the home of God :-)..So Chill!!..

    6. Wajid Josh Says:

      There are no terrorists in Dachigam National Park And it has been never affected by such things. The fact is that the system is corrupted and what so ever funds come from Govt. to save these creatures that is looted by high profile officials.
      This is totally wrong that So called terrorists by them affected The park.
      I am Myself a Student of Forest Science and live in Kashmir And know the facts very well.

    7. Tabish Nazir Says:

      Hangul is the traditional pride of Kashmir, they should be bred in capitivity if one wants to see more of these in future..

    8. madiha Says:

      easy for project

    9. Mir aurooj Says:

      There are only 220 hanguls in kashmir..hanguls are only in kashmir valley so we should save them…they are the tradition of kashmir valley..

    10. hassan Says:

      well i don’t know about you but i will save them, at-least i will get a pair of it,as i live near Kashmir in Gujrat Pakistan.then i will breed it…i love to save animals,and if there are any others rare animals near my location,just tell me and i will do my best…:)

    11. ali Says:

      i love biodiversity.GOD has created man as a viceroy but he is not a master but slave of God he has no right to destroy HIS creation but should help to conserve them. Once a species is lost it is lost forever it can not be recreated so we should save our state animal(hangul)captive breeding is the best method for see it in future with increasing population.

    12. lone lateef ul hassan Says:

      we should take proper steps to save the kashmiri pride.
      Our state government has totally failed to protect the race of hangul.

    13. ni2 Says:

      Thank s for information a good sensitisation

    14. ni2 Says:

      How can I help please suggest-jsuggest-jsuggestions aurr JiJine do

    15. riyaz Says:

      Dear Wajid Josh

      every weekend their is heavy crowd of terrorists local as well as outsider,it is not necessary terrorists will disturbe hagul but the thing is terrorists are using polythene in park whcuh is very harmful for environment as well as wild animals so it better to keep terrorists out from dachigam national park..

    16. jahangir ahmad Says:

      it is the fault of govt who allow the numades for grazing which is one of the bigest cause for ceh(hangul) facing the extinction in dachigam national park

    17. Farhan Says:

      plzzzzzz save these animals plz plz plz

    18. tariq Says:

      I wl try my best to save dis endangered one

    19. Sheikh Maajid Says:

      It is totally wrong that terrorism had affected the Dachigam Narional Park anyway.
      The administration is self responsible for it, unfortunately why the system involve the terrorist for it. Achieve the real reason for it and protect these species…..

    20. gayathiri Says:

      Too easy 2 complete my works. Mst save these animals

    21. ayax Says:

      I m very fond of viewing horde of Hanguls like thousands in row but now itz impossible as there are are 220 left due to the less effort of govt the are only currpt employee over there!
      Still if we can try it be the 5000 hanguls again in few years
      Avoid deforstation

    22. Venkatesh Says:

      Please save these animals

    23. aasia Says:

      i want to know abt hungul project

    24. Maryam Says:

      we must save them for our own benifit that is for a few mins …..we kill these innocent animals .I myself is a animal lover ….at last i would say.”SAVE TEH ANIMALS”

    1 Trackbacks For This Post

    1. India’s Rare Kashmir Stag Could Go Extinct Soon | Care2 Causes | Life or Lunch? Says:

      […] planet, it’s relative, the Hangul (Cervus elaphus hanglu) isn’t nearly as lucky. According to RelivEarth, it went from thriving in the high altitudes of India and Pakistan to being “the most endangered […]

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