Markhor is a goat in the wild. It is the only goat in its family that has learned to live in northern Pakistan’s rough and steep mountains, some of which are between 4,000 and 12,000 feet high. Markhor is the national animal of Pakistan.
Its corkscrew-shaped horns and strong hooves are just two of the things that make it look powerful. Since they are diurnal, Markhor is awake early in the morning and late in the afternoon. Markhors usually eat grass in the summer and spring, but in the winter, they eat soft shoots, leaves, and shrubs. Most Markhor males live alone, while females live in groups of nine to ten. They are awake during the day, are good at climbing, and can jump on rocky mountains. When they chew their cud, they make a foamy substance in their drool. The native people use this foamy substance to get the poison out of snakes.
Male Markhor
Markhor horns grow up to 65 inches on males but only up to 10 inches on females. Markhors live in the Karakoram, the Himalayas, and Central Asia. They usually live in forests of pine, oak, and juniper.
Appearance and Characteristics of Markhor
The markhor is known for its long, spiral horns, which can grow up to five feet in length. Its coat is usually a combination of brown, white, and black and it has a distinctive shaggy mane around its neck. The markhor is a large animal, with males weighing up to 250 pounds and females weighing up to 150 pounds. It is agile and sure-footed, able to climb steep, rocky slopes easily.
Markhor, The Sanke Eater
Markhor is the national animal of Pakistan. Its name comes from the Persian language and means “to kill a snake.” It also shows how strong Pakistan’s military is. Because of this, the ISI, Pakistan’s intelligence agency, uses it as a symbol.
During the time of the British Raj and after 1947 in Pakistan, people liked to hunt markhors. Markhors were almost gone by 1990 because they were hunted so much. Because of this, the Pakistani government made it illegal to hunt Markhors to protect the species. Also, as part of the effort to save Markhors, the government sold expensive hunting licenses so that senior Markhors could be killed.
Cultural Significance of Markhor In Pakistan
The markhor is a symbol of strength and bravery in Pakistani culture. It is revered as a noble and majestic animal and is considered an important part of the country’s natural heritage. In Pakistani folklore, the markhor is often depicted as a fierce and powerful predator capable of defending itself against even the most formidable foes.
Markhor Species, The national Animal of Pakistan
Markhors is made up of five sub-species. The animal was saved from going extinct by trophy hunting. But it looks like the numbers are going down again because the wildlife department doesn’t get paid enough or on time, which makes poachers want to kill the rare animals.
There are five sub-species of Markhors. Trophy hunting brought the creature back from extinction. However, the numbers seem to be dwindling again owing to the insufficient and irregular salaries of the wildlife department, motivating poachers to hunt precious animals.
There are several types of Markhors ranging from
- Astor Markhor
- Bukharan Markhor
- Kabul Markhor
- Kashmir Markhor
- Suleiman Markhor
Astor Markhors: reside in the forest of Laghman and Nuristan of Afghanistan.
Bukharan Markhors: Bukharan Markhor is located in the north upper Banks of the Amu Darya and Pyanj Rivers, which flow from Turkmenistan to Tajikistan.
Kabul Markhor: is the Kabul Province and the mountains of Kapisa.
Conservation Efforts
The markhor is protected by law in Pakistan, and efforts are being made to conserve and protect the species. The markhor population has recently declined due to habitat loss, poaching, and other threats. Conservation organizations are working to raise awareness about the importance of protecting this iconic animal.
The markhor is Pakistan’s national animal because it symbolizes strength and bravery in Pakistani culture. It is revered as a noble and majestic animal and is considered an important part of the country’s natural heritage.
Markhor males can grow to be up to 250 pounds, while females can grow to be up to 150 pounds.
In Pakistani society, the markhor is considered a noble and majestic animal and is often depicted as a fierce and powerful predator in folklore. It is a symbol of strength and bravery, and it is considered to be an important part of the country’s natural heritage.
The markhor population has recently declined due to habitat loss, poaching, and other threats.
Conservation organizations are working to raise awareness about the importance of protecting the markhor and are implementing various efforts to conserve and protect the species. These efforts include habitat protection and restoration, law enforcement to prevent poaching, and education campaigns from raising awareness about the importance of the markhor.
