Srinagar: An international Seminar on “Hangul and other threatened deer conservation” Was organized by Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST Kashmir) in collaboration with the Department of Wildlife Protection, Jammu & Kashmir Government today on at Shalimar as part of the prestigious Indo-US faculty/student exchange and capacity building programme under the Joint Network Center program.
This programme being spare headed by Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-Kashmir) in partnership with Indian Institutions The Department of Wildlife Protection, J & K Government and Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun and the US partnering Institutions the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Montana Technology University, Montana and the Wilds Ohio is aimed at building a strong bilateral consortium and research capacities in the participating institutions to ensure science based solutions for the effective long-term management, conservation and population recovery of the threatened wildlife especially the threatened Hangul under in-situ and ex-situ conditions through conservation breeding and conservation genetics.
The event was aimed at developing a road map for effective long term Hangul conservation planning in partnership with national and international Institutions and experts. The event was presided over by Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai, the Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor, SKUAST-Kashmir. Dr. Mohit Gera IFS, PCCF & HoFF, Jammu & Kashmir Government graced the event as Chief Guest. Mr. Suresh Kumar Gupta IFS, PCCF/Chief Wildlife Warden was the guest of the honour.
A galaxy of international experts from across the world including Dr. William McShea Chair IUCN Deer Specialist Group and Dr. Budhan, Pukazhenth from Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, Virginia, USA and Dr. Dan Beetam from the largest conservation facility in the North America, the Wilds Ohio and Dr. Parag Nigam from Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun graced the event. The senior officers from the Department of Wildlife Protection, Rashid Yahya Naqash, Regional Wildlife Warden, Shri Imtiyaz Ahmad Lone, Joint Director Soil Conservation Department, Intesar Suhail, Miss Ifshan Deevan and officers of the University graced the event. The International experts appreciated the scientific efforts put in by SKUAST-Kashmir towards Hangul conservation and ensured to extend all their support towards addressing the issues faced by Hangul.
Dr. Khursheed Ahmad, Programme Organizing Secretary and Head Division of Wildlife Sciences, welcomed the guests and provided a brief introduction of the programme.
The final report of a research study funded by the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, Govt of India titled “Long Term Conservation of Hangul: Hangul Movement Patterns study using GPS-Satellite Telemetry” conducted by the Division of Wildlife Sciences, SKUAST-Kashmir in collaboration with the Department of Wildlife Protection and Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun was released during the event.
Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai while appreciating this much needed efforts put in towards Hangul conservation and stressed the need for furtherance of the International collaborations for ensuring long term survival and conservation of this endemic deer of Kashmir.
The Chief Guest, Dr. Mohit Gera stressed need for the coordinated efforts and stakeholder’s participatory approach in ensuring the Hangul and other biodiversity conservation in the region. Dr. Gera lauded the contributions of SKUAST-Kashmir and Dr. Khursheed Ahmad, Scientist & Head Division of Wildlife Sciences, of the University in Hangul conservation and in other biodiversity conservation as regular expert member of the Biodiversity council of Jammu & Kashmir
Shri Suresh Kumar Gupta, Chief Wildlife Warden while appreciating the efforts taken by the SKUAST-Kashmir and the organizing secretary towards Hangul conservation for initiating and establishing this much needed scientific collaboration with the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute and The Wilds, Ohio, USA that this collaboration will go long way in ensuring Long term conservation and survival of this highly threatened Hangul deer through in-situ and ex-situ Hangul conservation breeding and reintroduction programme.
Dr. Azmat Alam Khan, OSD to Vice-Chancellor, presented the vote of thanks.

KR Desk