SRINAGAR, Dec 7: An injured Markhor, the world’s largest wild goat and an iconic species in India, was rescued from a village near the Line of Control (LoC) in Baramulla district, officials said on Saturday.
The Markhor, recognized for its distinctive spiral horns, is classified as ‘Near Threatened’ on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. This elusive animal is typically found in the rugged mountainous terrain of Kashmir.
Wildlife Warden (North) Intesar Suhail confirmed that the male Markhor had wandered into Noorkhah village, located near the Kazinag National Park, which is a key habitat for this rare species. “We received information about an injured Markhor early this morning. Our team responded promptly and successfully rescued the animal,” Suhail said. He explained that the Markhor likely strayed into the village due to the ongoing breeding season.
The Kazinag National Park, situated near the LoC, is a critical habitat for the Markhor. Current estimates suggest that there are around 250 Markhors in Kashmir, with nearly 200 found in Kazinag National Park and the remainder in Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary in Shopian.
The Markhor is also the national animal of Pakistan, with populations found on both sides of the LoC. Ongoing conservation efforts are focused on protecting and increasing the Markhor population in the Kashmir region.
