The markhor, also known as the screw horn goat, is the national animal of Pakistan.This is a large species of wild goat that is found in northern and central Pakistan, northeastern Afghanistan, Northern India, southern Tajikistan, southern Uzbekistan and in the Himalayas.The species was classed by the IUCN as Endangered until 2015 when it was downgraded to Near Threatened, as their numbers have increased in recent years
by an estimated 20% for the last decade.
SOME Amazing FACTS ABOUT MARKHOR
*Markhor stand 65 to 115 cm (26 to 45 in) at the shoulder, 132 to 186 cm (52 to 73 in) in length and weigh from 32 to 110 kg (71 to 243 lb).
*Male markhors are massive. They can grow to well over 200 pounds, have an exaggerated amount of hair extending from their chin/chest and, most notably,
have spectacular spiraling horns atop their heads. Females horns are less dramatic, their throats are less hairy, and their bodies a lot less stout. However, both sexes graze on grass and live in mountain elevations as high as 3,000 meters.
*Markhor are adapted to mountainous terrain, and can be found between 600 and 3,600 m in elevation.
*They typically inhabit scrub forests made up primarily of oaks , pines , and junipers .
*They are diurnal, and are mainly active in the early morning and late afternoon.
*Their diets shift seasonally: in the spring and summer periods they graze, but turn to browsing in winter, sometimes standing on their hind legs
to reach high branches. The mating season takes place in winter, during which the males fight each other by lunging,
locking horns and attempting to push each other off balance.
*Like cows, markhors can often be found chewing their cud after eating. In the process of chewing, the cud often falls out of their mouths and onto the ground. Locals insist that this substance is helpful for treating snake bites and other wounds, so it’s popular among people who prefer natural remedies.
*The gestation period lasts 135–170 days, and usually results in the birth of 1 or 2 kids, though rarely three.
*The male markhor’s horns can grow up to 5 ft, 4 inches, which is taller than many humans! The female’s horns tend to grow much shorter, to a length of about 10 inches. This discrepancy in horn length makes it easier to tell the difference between male and female markhors.
*Markhor live in flocks, usually numbering nine animals, composed of adult females and their young.
*Adult females and kids comprise most of the markhor population, with adult females making up 32% of
the population and kids making up 31%.
Adult males comprise 19%, while subadults (males aged 2–3 years) make up 12%,
and yearlings (females aged 12–24 months) make up 9% of the population.
*Adult males are largely solitary.
*Their alarm call closely resembles the bleating of domestic goats.
*Early in the season the males and females may be found together on the open grassy patches and clear slopes among the forest.
*During the summer, the males remain in the forest, while the females generally climb to the highest rocky ridges above.
*Living in the mountainous terrain requires the ability to move up and down the hilly, often rocky terrain. Despite their large size, markhors are extremely skilled climbers.
These gorgeous goats can even climb trees and other slanted structures, including seemingly dangerous cliffs, in order to forage for food and evade predators.
*Another useful genetic adaptation these animals have is their feet.
The hooves of the markhor are wide, helping them balance when climbing or simply walking in their often uneven habitat.
This wide stance helps them avoid wobbling, so they do not fall off their mountain homes!
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