Srinagar, April 15 -- In the previous census conducted in April 2023, the Hangul population stood at 289-up from 261 in 2021-marking a 10.72% rise. The increase has brought cautious optimism among conservationists who say sustained habitat recovery and anti-poaching measures are beginning to show results.

A major contributor to this upward trend is theTrees for Hangulsinitiative, launched by the social enterprise Grow-Trees.com near Pampore. So far, over 1.22 lakh trees have been planted as part of the project, aimed at restoring the Hangul's fragmented habitat and ensuring a reliable food source.

"Back in 2008, their numbers had dropped to just 127," says Pradip Shah, co-founder of Grow-Trees.com. "But with focused conservation work, t...