International Markhor Day is observed on a global scale on Saturday, highlighting the need to protect one of the most emblematic and ecologically vital species in Central Asian and South.
The Markhor (Capra Falconeri), known for its striking horns-shaped horns, lives in mountainous regions in Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. It is suitable for altitudes between 600 and 3,600 meters on damaged and slightly wooded land.
It is also the national animal of Pakistan.
The United Nations General Assembly officially appointed May 24 as International Markhor Day.
The day was marked for the first time in 2024 and called on the member states of the United Nations, civil society and the world stakeholders to promote regional conservation and cooperation.
Despite its cultural and ecological meaning, the Markhor remains threatened. Loss of habitat, illegal hunting, including poaching and climate change continue to endanger the species. All recognized subspecies – notably the horror, straight horns and straight horns – are considered in danger or in danger in a critical way.
The Markhor has been classified as “almost threatened” on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 2014 and is listed in Annex I of the Convention on International Trade of Threatened Species (CITES) since 1992.
With around 5,700 mature individuals remaining in the wild, environmentalists warn that an urgent action is necessary. Protecting the Markhor, they support not only, protects biodiversity but also supports local savings and encourages sustainable tourism.
