Kashmir Markhor

Kashmir Markhor

Context

Wildlife experts and Down To Earth reported a grave crisis for the Kashmir Markhor. India’s rarest wild goat faces local extinction, with an estimated 200–300 individuals left in the wild. The Kazinag range in Jammu & Kashmir now stands as the species’ last stronghold in the country.

About the Kashmir Markhor

• What it is: A large, cliff-dwelling wild goat; a subspecies of the Markhor (Capra falconeri), famed for its dramatic spiral (corkscrew) horns.
   
• Etymology: From Persian—Mar (snake) + Khor (eater). Despite folklore, Markhor are strictly herbivorous.
   
• Endemism in India: Confined to the north-western Himalayas of Jammu & Kashmir.
   

Habitat and Distribution

Adapted to near-vertical cliffs and alpine meadows at 600–3,600 m elevation.

• Kazinag National Park: Core refuge with the bulk of the surviving population.
   
• Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary: Once a key habitat, now under severe pressure.
   
• Tattakuti Wildlife Sanctuary & Khara Gali: Fragmented, high-altitude remnants.
   

Key Characteristics

Conservation Status & Threats

Legal status

• IUCN Red List: Near Threatened globally; Critically Endangered locally in India.
   
• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I (highest protection).
   
• CITES: Appendix I.
   

Major threats

• Livestock competition: Seasonal influxes of sheep and goats (often 30:1 vs. Markhor) deplete forage during May–June fawning.
   
• Infrastructure fragmentation: Mughal Road through Hirpora and high-tension lines disrupt corridors.
   
• Poaching: Residual pressure for meat and trophy horns in remote border zones.
   
• Militarization: Proximity to the LoC and fencing restrict movement and gene flow.
   

Significance

• Ecological indicator: Presence signals a healthy high-altitude ecosystem.
   
• Flagship role: Protection benefits co-occurring Himalayan fauna.
   
• Trophic importance: A key prey base sustaining apex predators.
   

Way Forward

• Grazing regulation: Rotational grazing and anti-grazing camps in critical fawning sites (notably Kazinag).
   
• Green infrastructure: Wildlife corridors to offset impacts of roads and linear projects.
   
• Community engagement: Partnerships with Gujjar and Bakarwal herders; enlist local “Markhor Watchers.”
   
• International recognition: Observance of International Day of the Markhor (24 May),declared by the United Nations in 2024 to mobilize global support.