Srinagar: Dispelling fears that the endangered Kashmiri stag 'Hangul' is fast vanishing, Jammu and Kashmir wildlife department on Monday said the animal has been spotted at many places in the valley besides the Dachigam National Park, considered the stag's last bastion.

"The number of Kashmiri stag has not shown any decline in the Dachigam National Park here... It is the same as it was last year.In fact, Hanguls have been spotted at various other places in south and north Kashmir which is a very encouraging sign," Central wildlife warden Abdul Rashid Naqash said.

He said Hanguls, the only surviving species of Asian red deer, have been recently spotted at Shikargah-Tral and Kokernag in south Kashmir and Bandipora, Uri and Kupwara in north Kashmir.

The stag (cervus elaphus hanglu), considered as a 'living wonder' of the Elysian valley, is a unique species, found only in Kashmir. Hangul, which has antlers ranging from 11 to 16, was once widely found on the mountains of Kashmir.

Naqash, who also manages the Dachigam National Park, denied media reports that the Kashmiri stag was facing extinction in its last bastion. "Those who claim that the number of Hanguls has plummeted to an all-time low are sensationalizing the issue," he said.

"Authentic records of the data are with us and whatever be the actual figure, it will be made public after scientific analysis shortly," he said.

The wildlife department conducted a census of the animal in early March involving experts from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).

"A total of 85 teams were pressed into service during the census," Naqash said.

Source : PTI