Centre steps in to protect endangered species in J&K
Dinesh Manhotra
Tribune News Service
Jammu, May 1
To protect the endangered species in Jammu and Kashmir, the Union Government has approved a long-term plan for conservation of hangul, snow leopard and markhor.
Nearly at the verge of extinction, the Union Ministry for Environment and Forests has approved the long-term programme to save these species.
Chief Wildlife Warden, J&K, Deepak Khanna told The Tribune that a proposal in this regard had been approved by the Union Government.
“We are expecting the funds to be released very soon to implement the project as early as possible,” Khanna said, adding that a comprehensive policy had been formulated with the support of the Centre to protect the endangered species.
Kashmir stag or hangul is a highly endangered species and is found only in the Valley’s Dachigam National Park.
The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests had earlier approved a long-term conservation action plan for hangul with a financial outlay of Rs 22.06 crore to be phased out for five consecutive years, starting 2008. The action plan will now be extended in the state to protect the animal.
The Census figure of hangul for the year 2014 is yet to be received, however, it is believed that their numbers have increased.
The estimated number of hanguls was nearly 6,000 in the beginning of the 20th century, but the number came down drastically to 150 as per the 1970 Census. Due to efforts of the state government, number of hanguls rose to 219 in 2011.
Meanwhile, under the Species Recovery Programme, the Union Government has released worth Rs 2.02 crore for conservation of snow leopard.
As far as the Himalayan goat or Markhor is concerned, the Centre has already released worth Rs 7.95 crore under a specific project from 2009-10 to 2014-15.
Markhor is found in parts of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Central Asia and Kashmir. The total number of markhors in Kashmir is a meagre 350.
