Hangul Cervus hanglu hanglu

The Hangul, also known as the Kashmir Stag or Kashmir Red Deer, is a subspecies of the red deer found primarily in the Kashmir Valley in northern India. It is a large herbivorous mammal, inhabiting temperate and alpine forests at elevations between 2,000 and 3,500 meters above sea level. The Hangul is the state animal of Jammu & Kashmir and is one of the most endangered deer species in the world.

The Hangul has a robust, muscular body, with a reddish-brown coat in summer that turns darker in winter. Males, known as stags, have impressive antlers that are broad, with multiple tines, and can grow up to 1 meter in length. These antlers are shed and regrown annually. The body length of the Hangul is about 150–200 cm, with a shoulder height of 100–130 cm, and males can weigh between 150–250 kg, while females are smaller, weighing around 90–150 kg.

Hangul are herbivores and feed on grasses, shrubs, leaves, and fruits. They are typically found in small groups, with males and females usually living separately except during the breeding season. Males engage in vocalizations and physical displays to compete for mates during the rut. They are active mainly at dawn and dusk and are generally shy and elusive.

IUCN Status: Critically Endangered

IWLPA: Schedule I

CITES: Appendix I