To save the critically endangered Hangul, also known as Kashmir Stag, the Wildlife Institute of India has asked both the Centre and the state Government to include more areas — apart from Dachigam, the main concentration of Hanguls — for the conservation of the endangered deer species. Hanguls are found only in the Kashmir Valley.

The suggestion of the institute was the outcome of its recent census that was conducted in March this year with the help of the state Government’s Department of Wildlife Protection.

The three-member team from WII found that the presence of Hangul was much beyond their forest habitat of the Dachigam National Park. “The experts spotted Hanguls in Khanmoh, Khrew, and Brain,” said an official of the Department of Wildlife Protection. The institute has suggested that Khanmoh, Khrew, Brain, Chasmashahi, Nighat and Wangat should also be included in the areas for conservation.

According to officials, the number of Hanguls was found to be the same — between 118 and 195 as what was estimated in the last census conducted two years ago.

The state’s Chief Wildlife Warden A K Srivastava said the Rs 8.80 crore worth conservation project has been submitted to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests.