SRINAGAR: Scientists from the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, have provided crucial insights into the reproductive cycles and stress patterns of the critically endangered Kashmir stag, also known as hangul, through a study published in Scientific Reports of Nature. The research, led by Govindhaswamy Umapathy from the Laboratory for the Conservation of Endangered Species (LaCONES), highlights the impact of human disturbances on the species’ reproductive success and calls for targeted conservation efforts, reports appearing in the media suggest.
The study has utilised non-invasive faecal hormone analysis to track reproductive stages and stress levels in both male and female hangul in the wild. It found that the species follows a seasonal breeding pattern, with males experiencing a synchronised rutting season between October and December, while females have a more spread-out mating and birthing cycle.
“Using non-invasive faecal hormone analysis, the study tracked variations in reproductive stages and stress levels in both male and female hangul,” The Times of India reported. “The findings suggest that human disturbances, especially from migratory livestock herders, contribute to stress during critical reproductive phases, indicating the need for protective measures during these times.”
Elevated progesterone levels in females from January to March indicated pregnancies, with a decline in April suggesting the birthing period. Stress hormones spiked during these critical reproductive phases, with an additional peak in April and May linked to disturbances caused by migratory livestock herders.
“The Elevated Progesterone Levels (FPM) in females from January to March indicated pregnancy, with a sharp decline in April suggesting synchronised parturition or birthing,” The Hindu, quoting the study reported. “Testosterone levels in males were positively correlated with stress, confirming rut-related competition among males. Both males and females experienced increased glucocorticoid levels interpreted as stress during mating. Females showed additional stress peaks around parturition (birthing) of April-May.”
The research team, which included Tanshree Srivastava, Javaid Hameed, Vinod Kumar, Harika Segu, Sneha Narayan, Moomin John and Karthikeyan Vasudevan, spent over a year in the upper Himalayas, collecting 1172 faecal samples from 11 trails in lower Dachigam National Park, the last refuge of the hangul. The findings indicate that competition among males during rutting season, as well as external stress factors such as human activity, may be affecting the species’ reproductive success.
Further studies, including camera-trapping surveys, have been recommended to confirm the exact timing of these reproductive events. Scientists stress that minimising human disturbances during mating and birthing periods is crucial to improving the survival prospects of the hangul. The findings also provide a baseline for future conservation strategies, including potential captive breeding initiatives.
Meanwhile, another study by CCMB, led by senior principal scientist P Anuradha Reddy and published in Cambridge Core, has provided an updated population estimate of the hangul using genetic data. Once widely distributed across Kashmir, Chenab Valley and parts of Himachal Pradesh, the hangul is now classified as ‘Critically Endangered’ on the IUCN Red List and protected under Schedule 1 of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The population, which numbered between 3,000 and 5,000 in the early 1900s, had dwindled to an estimated 200 individuals in recent years, with a highly skewed sex ratio of 12-15 males for every 100 females.
Telenganga Today reported that the scientists used 14 microsatellite markers and genetic analysis of faecal samples from Dachigam National Park and identified 293 individuals, including 208 females and 85 males. The genetic mark-recapture method estimated the hangul population at 394 individuals, higher than previous estimates but still critically low. Detection rates indicated that males were most frequently observed in November, coinciding with the breeding season, while female sightings peaked in December.
Researchers emphasise that the findings should inform future conservation efforts, including identifying suitable founder animals for captive breeding to stabilise the population. They also highlight the seasonal migratory behaviour of the hangul, which moves between lower elevations in winter and higher elevations in summer.
With multiple threats including habitat fragmentation, human disturbances and genetic bottlenecks, conservationists stress the urgency of long-term monitoring and adaptive strategies to ensure the survival of the hangul deer in its natural habitat.
