Operation Hangul "cover-up" in the Valley

"Grazing in the park should be completely banned. And the activities of the personnel of the 5-6 other departments that have offices in the park should be regulated," he said.

While private researchers and wildlife guards vouch that the population of the hangul is anywhere between 100-170, the two rounds of official census conducted recently has put the numbers at an exaggerated 210 to 260.

"With figures falling short, a third census is planned in another week’s time to push the figure up to last year’s census figure of 373,"the senior official said.

According to sources, under pressure from the Government, the Wildlife Department is devising means to show that hangul numbers have stabilised.

The Department has inflated the figures by including hangul found outside the Park in the buffer zones.

"The Government is just not willing to face the facts and acknowledge that there is a problem. If protection measures are not taken on war-footing, the hangul will be down to its last survivors in another five years. Instead, the Government is trumping all manner of excuses from militancy to lack of funds to justify the inaction," said a former wildlife officer.

Hangul numbers had increased from about 140 in 1970 to 818 in 1988 just before the advent of militancy.

The years of turmoil brought unparalleled destruction on the 141-sq km park. Militant camps were set up in Upper Dachigam and an estimated 250 hangul were shot by militants, shikaris and surrendered militants.