International Day of the Markhor

 It is reported that different species of Markhor are present in mountainous regions of Balochistan and KPK and threats to biodiversity are noticed. The developing countries are more on the verge of these threats as they need support to build policies for conservation . There must be some conservation programs for the conservationof Markhor . Local inhabitants, non-governmental associations (NGOs) and the public authority have taken steps for biodiversity protection in the northern zones of Pakistan. There is a private preservation program named as Torghar Conservation project (TCP) established in 1986 after discussion with Pathan ancestral pioneers and qualied natural life scientists from the USA. TCP has its fundamental target the reclamation and preservation of the Suleiman Markhor (Capra falconeri megaceros), and the Afghan urial (Ovis orientalis cycloceros in the Torghar that lies in district Killa Saifullah, Balochistan, Pakistan. Some other aims of this project are ...

 All five sub-species of Markhor are at the forefront of threats which include the habitat loss, low reproductive rates, lack of incentives, poaching, lack of operational funds, lack of public awareness and deforestation etc.. One of the major problems is habitat loss which plays a vital role in the extinction of Markhor and other wild animals. The factors which affect the habitat of Markhor are overpopulation of humans, more usage of wood, logs planks, pasturing, foraging and conquering of alien species. In 1975 Wildlife Act a cash reward is announced but no reward for the staff and insufficient investment demoted the workers. Lack of education is a hindrance in conservation. Regional community in KPK are ignorant of the social and economic welfare for renewable conservation of wildlife. So, it is noticed a lack of knowledge about wise use of wild species, lack of concentration, inadequate budget, and topographical isolation are some reasons for the extinction of hoofed species....

Pakistan has a wide variety of wild goats and sheeps belonging to subfamily Caprinae and family bovidae. There are seven Caprinae species which are found in Pakistan, and further partitioned into 12 subspecies . Markhor is one of the members of family Bovidae and subfamily Caprinae, which was rstly portrayed by Wagner in 1839. The word Markhor is imitative of Persian linguistic means snake eater. However, it is mostly considered as Pashto driven word "MAR Akhkar". "MAR" represents snake and "Akhkar" to horns. Later on passage of time, the word became Markhor. On the basis of horns Markhor has two sub-species such as straight horned and are horned Markhor. The straight horned Markhor further divided into Kabul and Suleiman Markhor while, are horned Markhor into Astor and Kashmir Markhor, The markhor is also divided into five types that are found in Pakistan and recognized as Astor Markhor (Capra falconeri falconeri), Kashmir or Pir Panjal Markhor (Capra f...

 In comparison to other Capra members, Markhor is a goat with low heights, existing between 700 and 1000 m along the Suleiman range's lower slopes. However, in winter they reached up to 2700 m and in summer upto 4000 m in Chitral valley . It leans toward regions with abrupt slants and bluffs getting little precipitation. A provisional distribution of Markhor species has shown in Figure 1. Number of Markhor in Pakistan  In the Chitral Division, there are over 800-1000 Markhor. Review reports indicated that the Swat, Chitral, and Dir Kohistan Divisions included 1400 Markhor. The IUCN declared all Markhor subspecies to be endangered in 1996. People are the essential hunters of the Markhor. Since Markhor occupies exceptionally steep and difficult to reach hilly territory, a few fortresses of Markhor species often approached by humans, Eurasian lynx, Snow leopards, Wolves, Black bear are predators of Markhor.  Importance of Markhor  Markhor as national animal have cultur...