KYANG (WILD ASS)
NYANG
Monday, April 6, 2009
HANGUL-Kashmir Stag
Hangul, Kashmir Stag (Cervus elaphus hangul, wagner) is critically endangered species with only 200 surviving in the wild at Dachigam National Park and none in captivity. It assumes importance as it is the only asiatic survivor of red deer.
My first encounter with Hangul was in Oct 2007, rutting season, when males with their crown were competing with other males to form a harem of theirs. This was the survival of the fittest where one who is magnificiently endowed and had the best of echoeing bellows was being favoured by females to father their fawns.
Males were seen following females through tall grasses and the same time bellowing to warn other contenders to keep distance or to come over and have a duel with much clanking of interlocked antlers.
Come december, Lucky ones with harems hid themselves contended but the few who could manage only one partner were found running around, always worried about their prized possession to be taken away by another. Females, loyally followed their paramor.
Snow followed and the countryside changed. Cover denuded due to snow and higher areas became difficult and hanguls came down and spotting them became easier, and so the threat of predation of fawns by leopards, martens and surprisingly feral dogs. Mom was worried and used to take every step cautiously, every now and then pausing and checking, with her fawn at her heels.
A lone juvenile or a switch with no velvet on antlers resting in snow in open so that it gets ample warning of any approaching threat.
But, I was denied of witnessing a harem. Always it was a pair or mother with a fawn, until this lucky sunny day in early february.
First, a male checking around and not noticing me.
Lead his harem of females and fawns out in open and the drama unfolded and we started counting heads.
The proud hero took count of its herd and at the same time checked that every head is in to avoid few amorous females who sneak out at the tail end to meet another male which usually follows to take its chance. The hero seemrd satisfied and
Come december, Lucky ones with harems hid themselves contended but the few who could manage only one partner were found running around, always worried about their prized possession to be taken away by another. Females, loyally followed their paramor. Snow followed and the countryside changed. Cover denuded due to snow and higher areas became difficult and hanguls came down and spotting them became easier, and so the threat of predation of fawns by leopards, martens and surprisingly feral dogs. Mom was worried and used to take every step cautiously, every now and then pausing and checking, with her fawn at her heels.
A lone juvenile or a switch with no velvet on antlers resting in snow in open so that it gets ample warning of any approaching threat. But, I was denied of witnessing a harem. Always it was a pair or mother with a fawn, until this lucky sunny day in early february. First, a male checking around and not noticing me. Lead his harem of females and fawns out in open and the drama unfolded and we started counting heads.The proud hero took count of its herd and at the same time checked that every head is in to avoid few amorous females who sneak out at the tail end to meet another male which usually follows to take its chance. The hero seemrd satisfied and
took them beyond in the thicket. And so did we returned with memories so deep rooted that will be cherished for a long time. We took count of 12 heads in the herd.
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