A male markhor strayed into Noorkhah village, Baramulla, near the Kazinag National Park in north Kashmir, close to the Line of Control.
About the Markhor (Capra falconeri)
- Markhor is considered the world’s largest wild goat, and is a highly endangered species.
- Habitat :Found in dense pine and birch forests of Kashmir and other mountain regions.
Kazinga National Park
- Location: North bank of Jhelum River, Baramulla district, Jammu and Kashmir, India.
- Altitude: 1800-4300 meters above sea level.
- Climate: Temperate, with warm summers and cold winters.
- Vegetation: Coniferous forests (deodar, fir, spruce, pine), alpine meadows, and shrublands
- Animals found : Markhor, Himalayan musk deer, Himalayan brown bear, Himalayan black bear, Indian leopard, Himalayan marmot, yellow-throated marten, Kashmir flying squirrel, etc.
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- Distribution: In India, primarily found in Jammu and Kashmir, including areas such as Shopian, Banihal Pass, Shamsbari, Kazinag Uri, and Pir Panjal range in Poonch.
- Global distribution includes Pakistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan.
- Conservation Status:
- Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 in India.
- Schedule I of the Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1978.
- Classified as ‘Near Threatened’ on the IUCN Red List.
- Appendix I to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) of Wild Fauna and Flora since 1992.
- Conservation Efforts:
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- Kashmir Markhor Recovery Project by the Wildlife Trust of India: Focuses on protecting markhor habitats and mitigating human activity and livestock grazing.
- Positive results observed in improving markhor population.
- Protected Areas: Expansion of the Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary and creation of the Tattakuti Sanctuary by the J & K government to secure their habitats.
- Significance and Recognition: The UN General Assembly declared 24 May as the International Day of the Markhor starting in 2024, highlighting its ecological and cultural importance.
10 Dec 2024
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