Abstract

This review presents information on declining population trends of critically endangered red deer of Kashmir commonly known as hangul (Cervus elaphus hanglu) belonging to the family Cervidae. It is restricted to Dachigam National Park (DNP) of Jammu and Kashmir State in India and is on the verge of extinction. The causes of decline of its population are both physical and biological factors. The physical factors include grazing by domestic livestock, fuel-wood and timber extraction, charcoal making and grass cutting. The biological factors include poaching by man and predation by leopard and black bear which are the main predators in DNP. The staff and vehicles of several government departments plying in the park also pose a threat to deer.

Key words: Hangul, Dachigam, population decline, physical factors, predation.