Omar Abdullah Pledges Prompt Action on Hangul, Markhor Conservation Recommendations
SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday assured that his government will act swiftly on the recommendations of the 2nd International Conference on Hangul and Other Threatened Ungulates Conservation (2IHUC-25), with the goal of achieving measurable growth in the populations of Hangul and Markhor before the next such event.
Speaking at the valedictory session of the three-day conference at SKUAST-Kashmir’s Shalimar campus, Abdullah—who is also Pro-Chancellor of the university—told an audience of conservation experts, scientists, policymakers, and delegates from across India and abroad that the State Government would treat the conference outcomes with the “utmost seriousness.”
“On behalf of my colleagues in government, I assure you that the recommendations emerging from this conference will be implemented at the earliest. My hope is that when we meet next, the population of Hangul and Markhor will have grown significantly,” he said.
Quoting eminent conservationist M.K. Ranjitsinh, the Chief Minister emphasized that conservation is inseparable from human survival. “Protecting Hangul, Markhor, or any threatened species is essentially about preserving life and the fragile ecological balance we depend upon,” he remarked.
Sharing a personal regret, Abdullah admitted that despite living near Dachigam National Park, he had never seen a Hangul in the wild. “I don’t want our children and grandchildren to know these species only from pictures in books, like the dodo or woolly mammoth. That would be a tragedy we must not allow,” he warned.
He called for greater synergy between academic institutions and government agencies to ensure real-world outcomes. “Unless academic research translates into implementation, we risk losing magnificent animals like the Hangul. When species thrive, ecosystems thrive—and so does humanity,” he said.
Abdullah also cautioned against bureaucratic delays. “These species will not wait for files to move from one department to another. The findings of this conference must translate into urgent action,” he stressed.
The Chief Minister thanked national and international delegates for their participation and hoped such conferences would be organized more frequently. The event brought together over 200 experts, conservationists, and biologists from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, the Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia, who shared research and strategies on conserving Himalayan ungulates.
On the occasion, Abdullah released a Vision Document titled Institute of Mountain Wildlife Sciences and distributed awards and certificates of appreciation to participants.
Among others who addressed the gathering were Forest Minister Javed Ahmed Rana, Advisor to the CM Nasir Aslam Wani, SKUAST-K Vice Chancellor Prof. Nazir A. Ganie, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Suresh Gupta, and international expert Dr. Gonzalez.
