10 Animals To Spot In Dachigam National Park, Kashmir

OT Staff

Hangul Deer

Also known as the Kashmir stag, this animal is a subspecies of the Central Asian red deer and is endemic to the region. Males are known for their magnificent antlers that have anywhere between 11 to 16 prongs.

Close-up of a female Kashmir stag, also known as hangul | Shutterstock

Snow Leopard

The elusive snow leopard is highly adapted to life on the cold, rocky slopes of Kashmir and Ladakh. Very rarely seen by humans, it has come to be known as the “ghost of the mountains.”

A snow leopard | Shutterstock

Kashmir Flycatcher

This is a small passerine bird in the flycatcher family of Muscicapidae that breeds in the Northwest Himalayas and winters in southern India and Sri Lanka. The males have a distinct blackish border on their reddish throat.

A Kashmir flycatcher | davidraju2007/Instagram

Himalayan Black Bear

This is a subspecies of the Asian black bear and is distinguished by its longer, thicker fur and smaller, whiter chest mark. They are typically nocturnal.

An Asiatic black bear | Shutterstock

Monal Pheasant

The Himalayan monal is a pheasant native to Himalayan forests and shrublands at elevations of 2,100-4,500 metres. Its diet consists primarily of tubers, nuts, tender leaves, shoots, insects and other invertebrates.

A Himalayan monal pheasant | Shutterstock

Bearded Vulture

Also known as the lammergeier, this is a very large bird of prey. The females of the species lay one or two eggs in mid-winter that hatch at the beginning of spring.

A bearded vulture | Shutterstock

Indian Leopard

In India, the leopard is found in all forest types, from tropical rainforests to alpine coniferous forests. Its range stretches from the Indus River in the west, the Himalayas in the north and the Brahmaputra in the east.

Close-up of a leopard at Dachigam National Park | Mike Prince/Wikimedia Commons

Yellow-Throated Marten

This animal is native to the Himalayas, Southeast and East Asia. Its coat is bright yellow-golden, and its head and back are distinctly darker, blending together black, white, golden-yellow and brown colours.

A yellow-throated marten | Shutterstock

Kashmir Musk Deer

This is an endangered species of musk deer native to Afghanistan, India and Pakistan. Poachers target the species due to their coveted scent glands that are used in perfumes and traditional medicines.

A Kashmir musk deer | 34strange/Instagram

Himalayan Grey Langur

Grey langurs can live in all kinds of conditions, from deserts and tropical rainforests to coniferous forests and mountain habitats. They are preyed upon by leopards, dholes and tigers.

A Himalayan grey langur | Shutterstock

10 Reasons To Visit Kashmir's Dachigam National Park

Inside the Dachigam National Park | Wikimedia Commons
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