Informatics Publishing Limited

Khursheed Ahmad ¹, Qamar Qureshi ², Parag Nigam ², Intesar Suhail ³

Affiliations
1 Centre for Mountain Wildlife Science, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shuhama Campus, Shuhama, Alusteng 190006, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir
2 Wildlife Institute of India, P.O. Box. 18, Chandrabhani, DehraDun, 248001, IN
3 Department of Wildlife Protection, Jammu and Kashmir Government, Srinagar J and K, IN

Abstract

The present paper reports population of Kashmir red deer or hangul (Cervus elaphus hanglu) outside Dachigam National Park accentuated by habitat suitability assessment. Study results indicate that hangul is restricted to an effective area of 351.15 Km² outside Dachigam National Park. The overall mean hangul encounter rate outside Dachigam was 0.043 hangul/kilometer walk. The overall hangul sex ratio outside Dachigam was 11.81 males/100 females and the fawn to female ratio was 5.93 fawn/100 females. The overall hangul density outside Dachigam turned out to be 0.49 hangul/Km² The isolated hangul population outside Dachigam NP and the fragile habitats therein need immediate attention for their effective management and long term conservation. Overa Wildlife Sanctuary and Shikargah Conservation Reserve are considered the alternate potential reintroduction sites for establishing a second viable hangul population outside Dachigam National Park. There is an urgent need for early initiation of the hangul conservation breeding programme for reintroduction/ repopulating existing good habitats in the hangul relic areas, beginning with the Shikargah-Overa ranges in Udder Valley. Development of a scientific based programme for regulated monitoring ofthese relic hangul populations and to identify ideal corridors to help dispersion of Hangul.

Keywords

Hangul, Cervus Elaphus Hanglu, Encounter Rate, Sex Ration, Population Size, Density, Dachigam National Park

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Riyaz Ahmad ¹, Narayan Sharma ², Upender Pacchnanda ³, Intesar Suhail ³, Kasturi Deb ¹, Yash Veer Bhatnagar ², Rahul Kaul ¹

Affiliations
1 Wildlife Trust of India, F-13, Sector 8, Noida 201 301, IN
2 Nature Conservation Foundation, 3076/5, IV Cross, Gokulam Park, Mysuru 570 002, IN
3 Department of Wildlife Protection, Rajbagh, Srinagar 190 001, IN

Abstract

In India, western tragopan is reported from Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. We documented the current status and distribution of western tragopan in J&K. We also predicted its potential distribution in the state. We used literature, field surveys and semi-structured questionnaire surveys to ascertain the distribution and conservation status of the pheasant species in J&K. Between 2007 and 2011, we conducted counts of western tragopan in five areas: Tattakuti Wildlife Sanctuary, Khara Galli Conservation Reserve (CR), Limber Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS), Lacchipora WLS and Kazinag National Park (NP) to assess its current status. We estimated 113 callers of western tragopan from Kazinag NP, Limber WLS, Lacchipora WLS, Tattakuti WLS and Khara Galli CR. We also discovered four new sites - Tattakuti WLS and Khara Galli CR (through direct surveys), Noorpur Galli and Narian-Ratannard (through secondary surveys) - of this species. We have confirmed the presence of western tragopan in Lacchipora WLS and re-confirmed its presence in Padder, Bhadarwa and Sudh Mahadev. Our habitat model predicted potential distribution of western tragopan, adding few additional potential sites. There is an urgent need to plan long-term monitoring and initiate appropriate measures to conserve the species.

Keywords

Conservation Status, Distribution, Hunting, Tragopan melanocephalus.

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