Markhor with mountains in the background
The markhor is a wild goat species indigenous to the mountainous regions of Central and South Asia.
Photo:Adobe Stock/JackF

The iconic markhor

The markhor (Capra falconeri) is an iconic and ecologically significant species found across the mountainous regions of Central and South Asia, including Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

The greatest threats to the survival of the markhor are habitat loss, illegal hunting, including poaching, and climate change.

The markhor was categorized as “near threatened” in 2014 and is on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species, and has been included in Appendix I to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora since 1992.

Besides its ecological value, the markhor is a valuable species that contributes to the local economy.

Preserving the markhor and its natural habitat is an ecological imperative and a significant opportunity to bolster the regional economy, foster conservation efforts and promote sustainable tourism and economic growth and that conservation efforts will benefit the ecosystem.

Horn variations of the markhor.


 

Horn variations of the markhor

 

A markhor (Capra falconeri) and the horn variations of the species (Roberts 1997). In each case the horns twist anti-clockwise.
The flare-horned markhor (C. f. falconeri) occurs in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India; the straight-horned markhor (C. f. megaceros) lives in Afghanistan and Pakistan; and the Bukharan markhor (C. f. heptneri) is present in Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. All subspecies are considered endangered to critically endangered.

The UN General Assembly proclaimed 24 May the International Day of the Markhor, A/RES/78/278, and we celebrated it for the first time in 2024.

We invite all Member States, organizations of the United Nations system, namely the United Nations Environment Programme, other international and regional organizations, civil society, non-governmental organizations, individuals and other relevant stakeholders to observe the International Day of the Markhor, as appropriate. We also invite all relevant stakeholders to give due consideration to enhancing international and regional cooperation in support of efforts to conserve the markhor, given its role in the overall ecosystem.

Did you know?

  • The number of mature individuals of markhor in the world is approximately 5,700.
  • The markhor has long (up to 63 inches) corkscrew-shaped horns.
  • It is adapted to mountainous terrain, between 600 and 3,600 m elevation, with open woodlands, scrublands and light forests.
  • It is the national animal of Pakistan.

Links

Related International Days

Farmers in rice terraces, Vietnam.

The Mountain Partnership is a UN alliance working to protect mountain environments and support the people and species who live there. The markhor, a symbol of healthy mountain life, highlights how conserving wildlife helps entire ecosystems thrive. By protecting these beautiful ecosystems, the Mountain Partnership promotes sustainability, biodiversity, and resilient mountain communities. Get to know more about it!

A hand with pencil drawing and coloring a Markhor

Download these coloring pages and have fun learning about this amazing mountain animal! With every picture, you’ll discover how the markhor helps care for its high mountain home. (This coloring book has been created with the use of AI)

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International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. We also mark other UN observances.