51³Ô¹Ï

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 , and has been included in 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, , and we celebrate it for the first time in 2024.

We invite all Member States, organizations of the 51³Ô¹Ï system, namely the 51³Ô¹Ï 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 invites 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

Taking place in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, from October 12th to 15th, 2024, this  aims to share scientific research focused on improving management and fostering conservation efforts for mountain hooved mammals and their ecosystems.

The Kunming-Montreal was adopted on December 19, 2022. This historic Framework, which supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and builds on the 's previous strategic plans, sets out an ambitious pathway to reach the global vision of a world living in harmony with nature by 2050. Among the Framework¡¯s key elements are 4 goals for 2050 and 23 targets for 2030. 

an abstract illustration of people engaged in an event

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 51³Ô¹Ï, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. We also mark other UN observances.