The slow but steady revival of the Hangul, the iconic Kashmiri stag, offers a rare and welcome conservation narrative in a region where ecological fragility and human pressures have long intersected. Once numbering in the thousands in the mid-twentieth century, the Hangul population witnessed a dramatic collapse over decades due to habitat loss, disturbance, predation, and prolonged instability. At its lowest point in the 1990s, estimates placed the population between 140 and 160 animals, raising serious concerns about its survival. Against this backdrop, the recent increase in numbers recorded in the 2025 census is not merely a statistic but a signal that focused scientific intervention can still reverse the fate of a critically endangered species.
At the centre of this turnaround is the conservation breeding programme initiated in the Tral landscape of the Pulwama district. Designed to address one of the most critical bottlenecks in Hangul recovery, low fawn survival, the breeding centre represents a shift from passive protection to active species management. By providing a controlled and secure environment during the most vulnerable stages of the animal’s life cycle, the programme has significantly reduced mortality caused by predators and human disturbance. Fawns raised under protection and later released as sub-adults enter the wild with higher survival prospects, strengthening natural recruitment and stabilising population dynamics. The rise in Hangul numbers from 289 in 2023 to 323 in 2025 may appear modest at first glance, yet in conservation terms it marks a meaningful gain. For a species confined to a limited geographic range and listed as critically endangered, even incremental growth reflects years of coordinated effort. It also underscores the importance of long-term planning rather than short-term outcomes. Conservation breeding alone cannot sustain recovery unless complemented by habitat protection, ecological restoration, and legal safeguards. In this regard, the upgradation of the Tral landscape to a wildlife sanctuary and ongoing habitat improvement measures in the Dachigam region represent crucial parallel interventions. The Hangul story also highlights the importance of scientific wildlife management in conflict-affected and environmentally sensitive regions. Conservation in Kashmir has faced unique challenges, including restricted access, security-related disruptions, and competing land use pressures. Despite these constraints, the Hangul revival programme demonstrates that institutional continuity and evidence-based planning can yield results even in complex settings. The use of fencing, predator control measures, balanced breeding ratios, and phased reintroduction reflects a growing reliance on globally accepted conservation practices adapted to local conditions. Equally significant is the symbolic value of the Hangul for Jammu and Kashmir. As the region’s state animal, its survival carries cultural and ecological meaning beyond biodiversity metrics. Protecting the Hangul is inseparable from protecting the forests, water sources and alpine meadows that sustain numerous other species and support local livelihoods. In this sense, Hangul conservation becomes a broader indicator of ecological security in the Himalayan landscape. However, the recent gains must be viewed with caution rather than complacency. A population of just over three hundred animals remains vulnerable to disease outbreaks, genetic bottlenecks and sudden habitat disturbances. Climate change adds another layer of uncertainty, altering vegetation patterns and water availability in high-altitude ecosystems. Continued monitoring, genetic studies and adaptive management will be essential to ensure that current progress translates into long-term stability. The Hangul breeding programme also offers lessons for wildlife policy across India. It reinforces the argument that conservation breeding, when used judiciously and in conjunction with habitat protection, can serve as a powerful recovery tool for species on the brink. At the same time, it reminds policymakers that such programmes demand sustained funding, trained personnel and public support. Conservation cannot be episodic. It requires patience, consistency and an understanding that ecological recovery often unfolds over decades rather than years.
In the revival of the Hangul, Jammu and Kashmir has demonstrated that decline is not destiny. Through scientific intervention, institutional commitment, and ecological foresight, a species once considered perilously close to extinction has begun a cautious return. The task ahead is to protect this momentum, expand safe habitats, and ensure that the Hangul once again thrives as a living symbol of Kashmir’s natural heritage rather than a case study of loss.