The United Nations (UN)’s International Day of the Markhor is observed annually across the globe on 24th May to raise global awareness about the ecological significance and conservation needs of the markhor (Capra falconeri), a wild goat species found in the mountainous regions of Central and South Asia including Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
- 24th May 2025 marks the 2nd observance of the International Day of the Markhor.
Note: The Markhor, known for its broad hooves and striking spiral horns, is the world’s largest wild goat species and has been recognised as the national animal of Pakistan since 1972.
Background:
i.On 2nd May 2024, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/78/278 declaring 24 May as the International Day of the Markhor.
ii.The resolution was proposed by Pakistan and co-sponsored by Afghanistan, China, Hungary, Israel, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
iii.The resolution invites the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and all Member States, civil society, and stakeholders to support the observance and promote regional cooperation in markhor conservation.
iv.The first observance of the Day was held on 24th May 2024.
Significance:
The day highlights the urgent need to protect the species from threats such as habitat loss, poaching, illegal hunting, and climate change, while promoting sustainable tourism and biodiversity preservation.
About Markhor:
i.The term Markhor comes from Persian, meaning “snake-eater” or “snake-killer,” and the animal is also referred to as the screw horn or “screw-horned goat.”
ii.Markhors are herbivorous animals that graze on various grasses during spring and summer, while in the fall and winter, they feed on leaves, twigs, and shrubs.
Conservation Status:
i.The Markhor is listed as Near Threatened on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List (2014) of Threatened Species.
ii.It has also been included in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) of Wild Fauna and Flora since 1992.
Markhor in Pakistan:
i.Pakistan is home to three subspecies of the Markhor:
- Flare-horned Markhor (C. f. falconeri): Found in northern Pakistan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan).
- Straight-horned Markhor (C. f. megaceros): Found in western Pakistan (Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa).
- Bukharan Markhor (C. f. heptneri): Found in Chitral (northern Pakistan).
ii.Markhor populations in Pakistan are found in remote, rugged mountains, including Chitral Gol National Park, Tooshi Game Reserve, Kirthar National Park and Torghar Conservation Area.
Markhor in India:
i.The Markhor is a rare and endangered species found in India, mainly in the Union Territory(UT) of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) and Ladakh.
ii.The species is listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, providing it the highest level of legal protection in India.
iii.In 2004, Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) along with the Wildlife Department of J&K, the Environment and Ecology Cell, and the Indian Army conducted detailed surveys in the areas where markhors were previously found.
- The surveys identified only two markhor populations – one in Kazinag and the other in Pir Panjal, with a total of around 250 individuals.
Key facts:
i.The global population of mature Markhor is approximately 5,700 individuals.
ii.It is known for its distinctive long, spiral-shaped (corkscrew) horns, which can grow up to 63 inches in length.
iii.Markhor inhabits mountainous terrain at elevations ranging from 600 to 3,600 meters(m).
