An Overview of Hangul (Cervus elaphus hanglu, Wagner) in Dachigam National Park, Kashmir (India)

The Hangul (Cervus elaphus hanglu) or Kashmir stage is presently surviving only under the moist temperate forests of Kashmir region. Most of its population is concentrated in the world famous Dachigam National Park which covers an area of 141 square kilometers and is located on foothills of Zabarwan range among the high mountains of the mighty western Himalayas. Hangul has been declared critically endangered species by Red Data Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). The declining population of Hangul in Jammu and Kashmir is because of the shrinkage of forests, fragmentation of natural habitat due to closure of corridor links between Overa Wildlife Sanctuary and Shikargah Conservation Reserve as well as other potential habitats, contamination of high altitude water bodies and climatic changes due to tourism and recreation and high population pressure.