Markhor

About Markhor:

• The markhor is a wild goat species indigenous to the mountainous regions of Central and South Asia.

• It is known for its thick fur, flowing beard and corkscrew horns.
• It is considered to be an apt flagship species for catalysing conservation in these mountain tracks. 

• It is adapted to mountainous terrain, between 600 and 3,600 m elevation, with open woodlands, scrublands and light forests.
• It is a diurnal animal and is mainly active in the early morning and late afternoon. 

• Geographical distribution: 

• It is found in the moist to semi-arid mountain tracts of Pakistan, India, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. 
• In J&K, Markhor’s population is found in Shopian, Banihal passes to the Shamsbari area of the Kazinag Uri and Pir Panjal range in Poonch.

• Conservation status

• IUCN: ‘Near Threatened’ 
• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I 
• CITES: Appendix I 

• Threats: Its population has been affected mostly by unabated human intervention and biotic factors.