The world is observing the International Day of the Markhor on Saturday, a day dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of protecting this iconic mountain goat species, which holds ecological and cultural significance across Central and South Asia.
The markhor (Capra falconeri), recognized for its distinctive spiral horns, roams the steep, forested mountains of Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, thriving at altitudes ranging from 600 to 3,600 meters. It also holds the title of Pakistan’s national animal.
The United Nations General Assembly officially established May 24 as the International Day of the Markhor, first observed in 2024, to encourage conservation efforts and foster cooperation among countries and conservation groups.
Although revered, the markhor continues to face serious threats such as shrinking habitats, illegal hunting, and the impacts of climate change.
All its subspecies, including the flare-horned, straight-horned, and Bukharan markhor, remain endangered or critically endangered.
Listed as “near threatened” on the IUCN Red List since 2014 and included in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) since 1992, the markhor’s future remains uncertain. Only about 5,700 mature individuals are believed to survive in the wild today.
Experts emphasize that safeguarding the markhor not only helps protect regional biodiversity but can also benefit local communities by promoting sustainable tourism and livelihoods tied to wildlife conservation.