The Hangul’s Last Stand

The recent decision by the Indian Government to upgrade the status of Dachigam Sanctuary in Kashmir, and make it a national park i.e. a part of UNESCOS Man and Biosphere Reserve programme, is expected to improve dramatically the Kashmir Stags' prospects for survival.

The Kashmir Stag, also known as the Hangul, has fallen victim to habitat destruction, poaching and human encroachment over the past half century. Previously common throughout the Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh regions, this unique deer species is now found only in and around the Dachigam Sanctuary.