Omar Abdullah Pledges Urgent Action on Hangul & Markhor Conservation at International Conference

Srinagar, Sept 12: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today pledged that his government will act swiftly on the recommendations of the Second International Conference on Hangul Protection and Other Threatened Ungulates Conservation (2IHUC-25), ensuring measurable progress in the populations of Hangul and Markhor before the next such global gathering.

Commitment to Conservation

Addressing the valedictory session at SKUAST-K’s Shalimar campus, the Chief Minister — also Pro-Chancellor of SKUAST-K — stressed that the conference outcomes would be treated with the highest priority. “Our aim is that when we gather here next time, the numbers of Hangul and Markhor show visible growth,” he affirmed.

Linking Wildlife & Human Survival

Quoting conservationist M.K. Ranjitsinh, Omar Abdullah said, “Conservation is not only about animals, it is about human survival. Protecting Hangul, Markhor or any threatened species is essentially about preserving life and ecological balance.”

He shared personal regret that despite living near Dachigam National Park, he had never seen a Hangul in the wild, warning against a future where children only know these species through photographs, like the dodo.

Urgency & Synergy Needed

The CM urged for synergy between academic research and government action, stressing that bureaucratic delays would further endanger fragile species. “These animals will not wait for files to move. Action must match urgency,” he cautioned.

Global Participation

The three-day event brought together over 200 delegates, including wildlife experts, scientists, and policymakers from the US, UK, Canada, Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia. Strategies for protecting Himalayan ungulates were discussed extensively.

Vision Document Released

On the occasion, the Chief Minister released a Vision Document on the Institute of Mountain Wildlife Sciences and presented awards and appreciation certificates. Other dignitaries who addressed the gathering included Forest Minister Javed Ahmed Rana, Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani, VC SKUAST-K Prof. Nazir A. Ganie, PCCF Suresh Gupta, and international expert Dr. Gonzalez.

Reaffirming Hope

Concluding the event, Omar Abdullah expressed confidence in Kashmir’s conservation efforts: “If we could succeed with Project Tiger and see encouraging signs with Hangul and Markhor, I believe our collective success will continue to grow.”

Source: Daily Excelsior (Read original)

Labels: Hangul Conservation, Omar Abdullah, Markhor, Wildlife, SKUAST-K

Tags: #Hangul #Markhor #WildlifeConservation #OmarAbdullah #SKUASTK #DailyExcelsior

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