Even though their population is small, the largest mountain goat on the planet is a creature of myth, a casualty of war, and a testament to resilience
Text by: Sustain Team Photos by: Dhritiman Mukherjee
Even though their population is small, the largest mountain goat on the planet is a creature of myth, a casualty of war, and a testament to resilience
Markhors have the physiology of mythical characters. These stately mountain goats with their shaggy coats and immense spiral horns inhabit the upper elevations of the Hindukush Himalayas. They find their way into numerous supernatural folktales from the region. In ancient Iran, bards spun tales of markhors being under the protection of djinns; in Nuristan (presently north-eastern Afghanistan), it was believed that markhors belonged to the fairies that occupied the mountains.
Closer home, in India, markhors were mainly considered extinct until a state-wide survey in 2004 revealed that there were two viable populations of the species in Jammu and Kashmir, in Kazinag and Hirpora. Both regions are now classified as national parks, but these are areas with inhospitable landscapes and high levels of military activity due to their proximity to the Line of Control. “With insurgency, protection of wildlife was a low priority,” writes Yashveer Bhatnagar and others in the paper, Endangered Markhor Capra Falconeri in India: Through War and Insurgency, “and even the declaration of four protected areas in the region, the Hirpura, Limber, and Lacchipora Wildlife Sanctuaries and the Naganari Conservation Reserve, did not facilitate conservation action or collection of data on the status and distribution of markhors in these areas.”
According to the IUCN, markhors are found in Afghanistan, India, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, between the altitudes of 600 and 3,600 m. There are five subspecies, of which the Capra falconeri cashmiriensis is found in India. “In India, the markhor is found only in Jammu and Kashmir, between 1,800 to 4,300 metres,” says Riyaz Ahmad, head of the markhor project for the Wildlife Trust of India, and key member in the state-wide survey of the species in 2004. “There are about 300 markhor left, with the majority population in Kazinag.”
Here’s what we know about these magnificent creatures.
Markhors are skilled mountaineers, capable of scaling the steepest of cliffs with ease. Their stocky build, strong hooves, and powerful legs are primed for this habitat, and they make the most of it. “I have seen markhor running along cliffs that are 90 degrees from the ground,” Ahmad says, “It is incredible to see a 100-kilo animal jump along cliffs like this. They can easily clear 30 metres in a single jump, and they are well camouflaged and like an extension of the mountains.” Cover photo: The markhor (Capra falconeri) is the national animal of Pakistan.
The prime habitat for the Kashmiri markhor is Kazinag Wildlife Sanctuary, spread over an area of 160 sq km. Located about 70 km from Srinagar and close to the LOC in Baramulla, Kazinag has a rugged landscape characterised by rocky outcrops, steep slopes, and flora that include pine, deodar, fir, birch, and juniper trees. In summer, the region has temperate and alpine grasslands that provide sufficient food for the markhor, but winter is hard for these ungulates.
Markhors are mixed feeders. In the summer, when forage is plentiful, they eat grass, herbs, and ground-cover plants predominantly. “In winter, they eat branches of deciduous shrubs, dried up grass, and coniferous leaves,” says Ahmad. “They are expert foragers. Even in winter, they occupy spots that receive regular sunshine, with rocks where they can warm themselves.” In addition, markhors also consume salt and other nutrients by licking mineral-rich rocks, as seen in this image.
Male and female markhors look significantly different. Male markhors (left) have larger horn structures, up to 150 cm in length, and a discernible beard under their chins. They are also differently coloured than females. “Markhors have different coats in summer and winter,” explains Ahmad. “Females have dark brown coats in summer, and light brown fur in the winter, while older males have lighter, almost whitish coats in summer, and darker, blackish coats in winter.”
The mating season for markhors is from mid-December to mid-January, and birthing occurs between mid-May and mid-June when food is plentiful. During the courtship period, males fight each other by locking horns to establish dominant status. According to Ahmad, while the dominant male will mate with 10-15 females, he has little to do with rearing of the young.
After a gestation period of four-five months, females give birth to one or two kids, with fawn-coloured coats. They give birth in rocky caverns, along steep cliffs, where few predators can reach them. “The young start walking within a few days but remain in safe areas for the first 15-20 days,” says Ahmad. “The common leopard, yellow-throated marten, and golden eagle are their threats.” The kids stay with the mother for the first year of their lives, during which they learn to forage and traverse the rocky landscape.
In 2009, the Mughal Road, which passes through the Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary, was opened, fragmenting the markhor habitat and leading to a surge in human activity in the region. “In Hirpora, we have an area of 340 sq km, designated for the markhor,” says Ahmad, “but not even 40 sq km is actually reserved for them because the area is full of livestock herders in the summer.” The population of markhors in this area has fallen by half since 2004 when the state-wide survey was conducted.
The geographic range of the markhor is frequented by nomadic communities such as the Bakkerwals and Gujjars — traditional herders that have grazed livestock in these regions for generations. “Many of these herders have designated pastures that they informally manage,” explains Ahmad. “Now, some of these herders are bringing other people’s cattle to the pastures, in addition to their own. Others are giving their lands on rent to herders that do not have their own pastures.” This has resulted in a serious loss of resources for local ungulates, such as the markhor that depend on these summer pastures to build fat reserves for the winter months.
Many communities within the markhor’s range have forest-reliant lifestyles. For instance, they gather wood for fuel to cook and keep warm and harvest herbs for sale. As human populations grow, the markhor’s range is shrinking, leading to a further loss of resources for these shy and reclusive animals. To ameliorate the situation, conservationists such as Ahmad attempt to create alternative sources of income for locals, such as apiculture, and alternative means of fuel, such as solar energy. “We are also creating awareness about the markhor’s population status and encouraging locals to forage with care,” says Ahmad, “so that some parts of the habitat can be left for the markhor.”
The populations of markhor that do remain are small, often less than 50 individuals. But this is a resilient species that has survived the harshest of landscapes for centuries. Ahmad attributes this to their ease with the habitat. “They use caves and cliffs in fantastic ways,” he says. “and can spot danger from miles away. I have observed the way they hit the ground with their hooves to sound an alarm and how quickly they can disappear into the landscape. Often, during my research, I was under the impression that I was observing a markhor, but actually, it was observing me.”
About the contributors
Sustain Team
We are a driven group of people from diverse backgrounds, bound by an abiding love for India’s natural world.
is one of India's most prolific wildlife and conservation photographers. His work has been featured in leading publications. He is also a RoundGlass Ambassador, and an RBS Earth Hero awardee.
