Jammu and Kashmir is known for its scenic beauty and for its rich and diverse animal and plant life. Leopards, bears, deer, yaks, the black-necked crane, and the golden eagle are some of the animals and birds found in Jammu Kashmir and Ladakh. In recent years, the population of some of the animals native to Kashmir has declined. Habitat destruction and poaching are the prime reasons for this, and the numbers have dwindled to the extent that certain animals have been classified as endangered.
Some animal conservation projects have been undertaken in Kashmir to save these animals from extinction. Here we give you information about the endangered animal species of J&K and the wildlife conservation projects in Jammu and Kashmir.
J&K’s Endangered Animals
Markhor: It is Pakistan’s national animal and classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. In India, this animal is found in the region of the Pir Panjal range, in the Jhelum Valley Forest Division, and to the south of Srinagar. Under Jammu and Kashmir’s Wildlife Protection Act of 1978, the markhor is a fully protected species.
White-bellied Musk Deer: It is native to the Himalayas and well-adapted to high altitudes. Due to overharvesting, its population has reduced, resulting in it being listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. As an effort to conserve this animal, it is protected by law in India.
Himalayan Tahr: This animal species is native to the Himalayas in northern India and in Tibet, Bhutan and Nepal. The IUCN Red List marks it as Near Threatened as the number of these animals is dwindling due to habitat destruction and hunting. As part of conservation efforts, this animal is under the Schedule I of the Wildife Protection Act 1972.
Tibetan Gazelle: Known as Goa, is an antelope species native to the Tibetan plateau. It is found in some parts of China and in Ladakh and Sikkim. Their population in Sikkim is less than 100. The reasons behind their population decline are poor pastures and lack of genetic diversity.
Serows: The Himalayan serow is native to the Himalayas and the state animal of Mizoram. It is among the endangered animals of Jammu and Kashmir, and as a conservation effort, it is enlisted in the CITES Appendix I.
Himalayan Brown Bear: Found in North India, it is possibly extinct in Bhutan and enlisted as critically endangered. These bears are poached for their fur and claws and killed by shepherds, which are reasons for their dwindling numbers. In India, they are present in 23 protected areas in the northern states and are preserved in the Kugti and Tundah sanctuaries in Himachal.
Kashmir Stag: Endemic to Kashmir, it is found in the high valleys and mountains of the Kashmir Valley and in Chamba, Himachal Pradesh. Due to habitat loss and poaching, its population is reducing. In J&K, IUCN and WWF have initiated Project Hangul which is aimed to protect this animal species.
Tibetan Antelope: Known as Chiru, this is an endangered animal found in Ladakh and some regions of Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Since Tibetan antelopes are poached for their fur, their population is decreasing. In the effort to conserve this species, it has legal protection under the CITES.
Wildlife Conservation Projects in J&K
Efforts to conserve animals include collection of information related to the population of animals, and measures to protect habitats and protect the animals from natural hazards. Government takes these efforts by introducing projects and other initiatives to preserve animals that are declining in numbers.
The Department of Wildlife Protection, Jammu and Kashmir Government, was established in 1978 to implement the Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife Protection Act. Before this act, some areas called Game Sanctuaries, Game Reserves and Reserve Areas were regulated with rules to give protection to some animals and birds.
The state government has formed a Protected Area Network spanning over 16,000 sq. kms, which comprises 5 National Parks, 14 Wildlife Sanctuaries and 35 Wildlife Conservation Reserves. The main goals of the Department of Wildlife Protection J&K include habitat improvement, reallocation of endangered species, drives to restrict animal smuggling and poaching, monitoring of animal health, and man-animal conflict resolution.
The Wildlife Conservation Fund (WCF) was started in 2010 with the aim to save animals across Jammu and Kashmir with the help of community support, awareness campaigns, and management within the species’ distribution range. Under this initiative, some projects such as the Hangul Conservation Project, Snow Leopard Conservation Project and Wetland Conservation Project have been undertaken.
Efforts like these which combine legal prohibition of animal killing, preserving endangered species in wildlife sanctuaries and conservation reserves, and raising awareness about the importance of animals, are proving to be effective in restoring the biodiversity of Jammu and Kashmir.
