Explanation:

The biennial population census of the unique Kashmiri royal stag, locally known as the Hangul, has shown a marginal increase in its population.

But the census has indicated a skewed male-female and fawn-female ratio.

Hangul once had good population in the Valley but has become a critically endangered species with sightings mostly reported in the Srinagar’s Dachigam National Park.

The results of population monitoring exercise conducted in April this year show a marginal increase in population from 2019 estimates - 237 in 2019 to 261 in 2021.

Lately, there have been a few sightings in connected areas outside the park in south Kashmir but their number is believed to be negligible.

The species has been placed in the ‘critically endangered’ category by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).