Markhor : Largest Wild Goat In The World
The largest wild goat in the world, is battling for survival in Jammu and Kashmir and measures must to protect its habitat to increase its population.
- 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.
