INITIAL EFFORTS FOR HANGUL (Cervus elap

Slide 1: 

Initial efforts - Hangul (Cervus elaphus hanglu) Conservation Breeding in J&K State A review of the past setbacks and successes

Remembrance : 

Remembrance A tribute to: Late Mir Inayat - ullah, (Ex - PCCF & Chief Wildlife Warden, J&K State)

Range of Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) : 

Range of Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) Original and Present Range: Europe (except Finland and Portugal). Tunisia. Turkey, Caucasus and Iran Kashmir (India) Chinese & Russian Turkestan, North Afghanistan East Tibet. Introduced in: New Zealand, Australia, Chile and Argentine.

HANGUL (Cervus elaphus hanglu)(Taxonomic Classification) : 

HANGUL (Cervus elaphus hanglu)(Taxonomic Classification) Order: Artiodactyla, Suborder: Ruminantia, Superfamily: Cervoidea, Family: Cervidae, Subfamily: Cervinae, Tribe: Cervini, Genus: Cervus, Specific name: elaphus Subspecies: hanglu Scientific name: Cervus elaphus hanglu

Distribution of Hangul (Cervus elaphus hanglu) : 

Distribution of Hangul (Cervus elaphus hanglu) Pre-independence distribution: Karen in Kishanganga catchments over to Dorus in Lolab valley Erin catchments in Bandipora to the Gamgul Siy-Behi Sanctuary in Himachl Pradesh. Present distribution: The only hypothetically viable population Of hangul is presently limited to Dachigam National Park in Jammu and Kashmir.

Last bastion of Hangul (Cervus elaphus hanglu) Dachigam N. Park : 

Last bastion of Hangul (Cervus elaphus hanglu) Dachigam N. Park Curtsey WII Curtsey WII

Physical characteristics & food habits : 

Physical characteristics & food habits Physical Characteristics: Summer colour > glossy reddish brown Winter colour > drab grey-brown. The rump patch > yellowish brown in both sexes. Calves > spotted. The under parts > generally creamy. Measurements: Stag height: >1.2-1.3 m (Shoulder) Stag weight: >300 lbs Food Habits: Preferred food > Grasses, forbs and herbs > Winter >browsing of twigs > Spring and summer >leaf browsing

Reproductive information : 

Reproductive information Rutting Season: Early Sept.- Late Oct. Gestation Period: 236 days. Parturition: May-June. Sexual Maturity of the Female: 1½ - 2½ years. Length of Oestrus Cycle: 18.5 days. Number of Offspring: One, rarely two. Specific Naming for Red deer

Population estimates of Hangul (1900-1965) : 

Population estimates of Hangul (1900-1965) Gee,1966 Q.Wani Official figure A.M.Khan

Population estimates of Hangul (1968-1978) : 

Population estimates of Hangul (1968-1978) Schallar,1969 Official figure Holloway,1970 Holloway,1972 Kurt, 1976 Kurt, 1976 Kurt, 1978 Kurt, 1978

Population estimates of Hangul (1978-1988) : 

Population estimates of Hangul (1978-1988) Kurt, 1978 Bacha, 1980 Bacha, 1982 Bacha, 1983 Bacha, 1984 Bacha, 1986 Bacha, 1987 WII – (Dehradun), Centre for Wildlife & Ornithology (Aligarh) & Department of Wildlife Protection, J&K Govt. -1988

Population estimates of Hangul (1992-2003) : 

Population estimates of Hangul (1992-2003)

Population estimates of Hangul (2004-09) : 

Population estimates of Hangul (2004-09)

Srinagar Deer Park cum Education Centre : 

Srinagar Deer Park cum Education Centre

Site Plan : 

Site Plan

Location & Site Characteristics : 

Location & Site Characteristics Location: Lower reaches of Cheshma-shahi mountains on the shores of world famous Dal lake. Area: 115 acres Zonation: Lower area: A swamp with a large water body fed by a number of springs. Middle area: Open grass land & fruit orchards. Upper area: interspersed with: grassland, fruit bearing trees & deciduous type of trees (Willows & poplars) towards Raj Bhavan.

Project Team & Advisory : 

Project Team & Advisory Project team Mir Inayat-Ullah, Chief Wildlife Warden, J&K State Thomes Mathew, Environmental Services Group, WWF India – New Delhi Dr Chris Wemmer, National Zoological Park, Smithsonian Institution USA A. Katakam, Katakam Associates, New Delhi Anil Patel Kartikeya Sarabhai, CEE Ahmadabad Sharad Gaur, Environmental Services Group, WWF India, New Delhi Project Advisors Duleep Matthai Dr. J. H. Desai Maj. Gen. R. K. Gaur Ramulus Whitaker

Objectives : 

Objectives Conservation: Conservation Breeding of endangered deer species. Recreation: A day out for local & outside visitors. Research: Behavioural & animal disease studies. Education: Display and interpretation of specimens.

Priority species : 

Priority species Target specie: Hangul (Cervus elaphus hanglu) Secondary species: Musk deer (Moschus moschiferus) Barking deer (Muntacus muntjac) Brow antlered deer (Cervus eldi eldi) Fallow deer (Dama dama) Barasingha (Cervus duvauceli) Rusa deer (Cervus timorensis) Spotted deer ( Axis axis) Hog deer ( Axis porcinus) Samber (Cervus unicolor) Black buck (Antilope cervicapra) Wild goat & sheep

Species that actually became part of the Centre : 

Species that actually became part of the Centre

Snow Leopard : 

Snow Leopard

Tibetan Wolf : 

Tibetan Wolf

Spotted Deer (Axis axis) : 

Spotted Deer (Axis axis)

Slide 28: 

Himalayan Musk Deer (Moschus moschiferus)

Slide 33: 

THEN WHERE THE THINGS WENT WRONG ?

Three main factors which hindered the program to proceed further? : 

Genetic to the species, Specific to the site Political turmoil in J&K Three main factors which hindered the program to proceed further?

Slide 35: 

Reasons genetic to species A strong male progeny biased tendency in the breeding Program. >Competition for Food, Territory Females Infighting among males

Slide 36: 

Reasons specific to site State Govt. priority shifted from conservation to development in the area. Area under dual control Speedy conversion of area into IGC Half hearted support from authorities in maintenance of deer park and its captive denizens. Predation by leopards during night hours, as the staff on guard was not allowed to undertake routine protection measures, due to prevailing security scenario in the area.

Political turmoil : 

Political turmoil Priorities changed at all levels. Conservation programs took the back seat. Due to high security status of the area, routine deer park management procedures went into shambles. Drastically minimized & erratic funding. Work culture lost Impossible to venture out in the hangul’s wilderness for securing new blood for the ongoing breeding program.

Slide 38: 

Hangul Conservation Breeding Program came to stop in 1994 with the death of the only breeding female (F2), while the elder female (F1) could not participate in breeding after 1994. In 1997, the remaining 2 animals were shifted back to Dachigam N. Park for release to free the area for golf course development .

Results : 

Results

Astract : 

Astract

Inferences : 

It has been observed that all the animals in deer park and hangul in particular, housed in animal enclosures were confronted by a wide range of potentially provocative environmental challenges during the golf course development activities in the area which acted as potential stressors that adversely affect their captive life. These include: Environmental stressors e.g. artificial lighting, exposure to loud or aversive sound, arousing odors, and uncomfortable temperatures or substrates. Confinement-specific stressors e.g. restricted movement, reduced retreat space, forced proximity to humans, reduced feeding opportunities, maintenance in abnormal social groups. Inferences

Recommendations : 

As a manager or a caretaker of Hangul Conservation Breeding Centre consider: Enclosure site within the natural range of species. Enclosures with inbuilt edge effect (near to naturalness) Adequate predator protection measures in place. Adequate health care facility available on the site Enclosures well defined for different usage i.e. breeding behaviour, conditioning weaned yearlings & sub-adults, social group behaviour (other than rutting season), adaptation in semi-wild conditions before release in the wild. Evaluation of enclosures and husbandry practices should be done very frequently to ensure the optimal well-being of animals in captivity. Recommendations

Recommendations Contd. …. : 

Recommendations Contd. …. Feeding points: Scattered over the enclosure. Located close to barn/shelter. Water points: Large concrete troughs. Pipes should be buried deep. Mud wallows & Sand baths: Large & shallow. Scattered at many locations Salt licks: Since hangul congregate and interact on salt lick sites, hence need to be located at sites where from animals can be examined remotely with- out disturbing them. Barns or Shelter sheds: Located on far-side from the walkway, keepers passage connected with service road. A barn or shelter can serve several purposes: Winter fodder storage Ramp for loading and unloading of animals for transfer, Confinement during Vetty. examination and treatment, Night shelter for animals in need.

CONSERVATION BREEDING EFFORTS IN LADAKH : 

CONSERVATION BREEDING EFFORTS IN LADAKH

PAHALGAM DEER PARK : 

PAHALGAM DEER PARK

Thanks! : 

Thanks!