Markhor

Ecology
Behavior
Predation

1. Dr -Abdul Jabbar

2. Markhor Capra falconeri

3. Distribution A large species of w ild goat  that is found in Northeastern   Afghanistan N orthern and central  Pakistan India (only Jammu & Kashmir ) S outhern   Tajikistan Eastern   Turkmenistan S outhern   Uzbekistan Himalayas

4. Description Length: 132 to 186 centimetres (52 to 73 in ) Weigh: Weigh from 32 to 110 kilograms (71 to 243  lb )

5. Behavior Markhor are adapted to mountainous terrain, and can be found between 600 and 3,600 meters in elevation. They typically inhabit scrub forests made up primarily of  oaks  ( Quercus ilex ),  pines  ( Pinus gerardiana ), and  junipers ( Juniperus macropoda ).They are  dirunal , and are mainly active in the early morning and late afternoon. Their diets shift seasonally: in the spring and summer periods they  graze, but turn to  browsing  in winter, sometimes standing on their hind legs to reach high branches. The mating season takes place in winter, during which the males fight each other by lunging, locking horns and attempting to push each other off balance. The  gestation period lasts 135–170 days, and usually results in the birth of one or two kids, though rarely three. Markhor live in flocks, usually numbering nine animals, composed of adult females and their young. Adult males are largely solitary. Adult females and kids comprise most of the markhor population, with adult females making up 32% of the population and kids making up 31%. Adult males comprise 19%, while subadults (males aged 2–3 years) make up 12%, and yearlings (females aged 12–24 months) make up 9% of the population .  Their alarm call closely resembles the bleating of domestic goats. Early in the season the males and females may be found together on the open grassy patches and clear slopes among the forest. During the summer, the males remain in the forest, while the females generally climb to the highest rocky ridges above .

6. Predation Humans are the primary predators on markhor . Because markhor inhabit very steep and inaccessible mountainous habitat, several strongholds of markhor populations have been rarely approached by man. Golden eagles ( Aquila chrysaetos ) have been reported preying upon young markhor . Among wild carnivores, Himalayan lynx ( Lynx lynx ), leopard cats ( Prionailurus bengalensis ), snow leopards ( Panthera uncia ), wolves ( Canis lupus ), and black bears ( Ursus thibetanus ) are the main predators of markhor . Because of these threats, the markhor possess keen eyesight and a strong sense of smell to detect nearby predators. Markhor are very aware of their surroundings and are on high alert for predators. In exposed areas, they are quick to spot and flee from predators.

7. Threats Markhor are potential prey for snow leopards, brown bears, lynx, jackals, and golden eagles. While not directly causing their endangerment, the already small population of markhor is further threatened by their predation .  Hunting for meat as a means of subsistence or trade in wildlife parts adds to the growing problem for wildlife managers in many countries. Poaching, with its indirect impacts as disturbance, increasing fleeing distances and resulting reduction of effective habitat size, is by far the most important factor threatening the survival of the markhor population .  The most important types of poachers seem to be local inhabitants, state border guards, the latter usually relying on local hunting guides, and Afghans, illegally crossing the border. Poaching causes fragmentation of the population. into small islands where the remaining subpopulations are prone to extinction .  The markhor is a valued trophy hunting prize for its incredibly rare spiral horns which became a threat to their species. The continuing declines of markhor populations finally caught the international community and became a concern.

8. Hunting In  British India, markhor were considered to be among the most challenging game species, due to the danger involved in stalking and pursuing them in high, mountainous terrain.According to Arthur Brinckman , in his  The Rifle in Cashmere , "a man who is a good walker will never wish for any finer sport than  ibex  or markhoor shooting ".   Elliot Roosevelt wrote of how he shot two markhor in 1881, his first on 8 July, his second on 1 August .  Although it is illegal to hunt markhor in Afghanistan, they have been traditionally hunted in  Nuristan  and  Laghman  Provinces, and this may have intensified during the  War in Afghanistan. In Pakistan, hunting markhor is legal as part of a conservation process, expensive hunting licenses are available from the Pakistani government which allow for the hunting of old markhors which are no longer good for breeding purposes .  In India, it is illegal to hunt markhor but they are poached for food and for their horns, which are thought to have medicinal properties .   Markhor have also been successfully introduced to private game ranches in Texas. Unlike the  aoudad, blackbuck,   nilgai ,   ibex, and  axis deer, however, markhor have not escaped in sufficient numbers to establish free-range wild populations in Texas.

9. Conservation status The  International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources  currently classifies the markhor as a  near to threat  species, due to a relatively small population (2013 estimate: ~5,800 individuals), the absence of a projected total population decline, and relying on ongoing conservation efforts to keep this population level.There are reservations in Tajikistan to protect the markhors . In 1973, two reservations were established. The Dashtijum Strict Reserve (also called the Zapovednik in Russian) offers markhor protect across 20,000 ha. The Dashtijum Reserve (called the Zakasnik in Russian) covers 53,000 ha. Though these reserves exist to protect and conserve the markhor population, the regulations are poorly enforced making poaching common as well as habitat destruction . The two organizations expect that their conversations will not only protect, but allow them to sustainability use the markhor species. This approach has been very effective compared to the protect lands that lack enforcement and security .  In India, the markhor is a fully protected (Schedule I) species under Jammu and Kashmir's Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1978.

10. In culture The markhor is the  national animal  of  Pakistan .  It was one of the 72 animals featured on the  WWF Conservation Coin Collection  in 1976. Markhor   marionettes  are used in the Afghan  puppet  shows known as  buz-baz . The markhor has also been mentioned in a  Pakistani   computer-animated film  known as  Allahyar and the Legend of Markhor . [31] In 2018, Pakistan's flag carrier  Pakistan International Airlines  adopted the markhor on its new revised livery. The Markhor is also present on the logo of the  Inter-Services Intelligence .