From the brink of extinction to a story of revival, Jammu and Kashmir’s iconic Hangul deer—the State Animal of J&K—has shown encouraging signs of recovery, with its population increasing to 323 in the 2025 census, up from 127 in 2008.
This information was shared during the 6th meeting of the Wildlife Board for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, chaired here by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
The meeting highlighted the efforts made by the Wildlife Department in operationalising the Hangul Breeding Centre at Tral. The Board expressed satisfaction over the steady rise in the Hangul population.
The meeting was attended by Javed Ahmed Rana, Minister for Forest, Ecology and Environment; Dr Devinder Kumar Manyal and Mian Mehar Ali, Members of the Legislative Assembly; Atal Dulloo, Chief Secretary; Dr Mandeep K. Bhandari, Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor; Ms Sheetal Nanda, Commissioner Secretary, Forest, Ecology and Environment; Suresh Kumar Gupta, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force; Sarvesh Rai, PCCF and Chief Wildlife Warden, J&K; Sujit Kumar, IGP Security; eminent conservationists, ecologists, environmentalists, representatives of the Army and NGOs working in the field of wildlife conservation, and other Board members.
The Board accorded wildlife clearance to several projects and recommended certain proposals to the National Board for Wildlife for final approval. These included projects related to 4G saturation, the Jal Jeevan Mission, realignment of transmission lines, setting up of border security posts, development of horticulture nurseries, and installation of avalanche warning systems.
The Board was also apprised of various conservation and habitat improvement initiatives undertaken by the department, including measures to mitigate human–wildlife conflict, establishment of rescue centres, and restoration of wetland habitats.
The Lieutenant Governor stressed the need to prioritise sustainable biodiversity management and conservation of wildlife habitats. He emphasised the promotion of awareness activities, especially among schoolchildren, for major projects such as Jambu Zoo, Hokersar and Gharana Wetlands. He also directed that public transport facilities be provided to these sites to promote eco-tourism.
The meeting also discussed issues related to crop damage caused by wild boar, blue bull and monkeys.
Documentaries showcasing restoration works at Hokersar and Gharana Wetland Conservation Reserves, as well as the operationalisation of the Hangul Breeding Centre, were screened during the meeting.