Astor markhor

Astor markhor
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Artiodactyla
Family: Bovidae
Subfamily: Caprinae
Tribe: Caprini
Genus: Capra
Species:
C. falconeri
Subspecies:
C. f. falconeri
Trinomial name
Capra falconeri falconeri
(Wagner, 1839)
Synonyms

Aegoceros falconeri falconeri Wagner, 1839

The Astor markhor (Capra falconeri falconeri) or flare-horned markhor is a markhor subspecies native to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.[1]

Ecology

The Astor markhor lives in the scrubland and open woodland that clothe the rugged slopes of the mountains among which it lives at altitudes of up to 3,600 m (11,800 ft). It seldom goes above the tree line; in summer it feeds largely on grasses and leaves but in winter it mainly browses on shrubs and woody material. One or two kids are born after a gestation period of 135 to 170 days. The goats are hunted by snow leopards, wolves and lynx, and the kids may fall prey to golden eagles.

Status

The 2011 estimate for the total population is around 5,800 individuals, divided into several sub-populations, with only one exceeding 1,000 individuals. The main threat they face is being hunted. Even where the animal is protected by legislation as in Afghanistan, poaching takes place and the ban on hunting is not enforced. In India it is fully protected and is present in three wildlife reserves, the Limber Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Lachipora Wildlife Sanctuary and the Hirapora Wildlife Sanctuary. These three areas are planned to be combined to create the Kazinag National Park in order to protect the Astor markhor and other mammals such as the snow leopard and the Himalayan brown bear.[2] In Pakistan, the Astor markhor is present in Naltar Wildlife Sanctuary in the northern part of the country.[3]

References

  1. ^ "International Day of the Markhor: 24 May". United Nations.
  2. ^ Raina, Muzaffar (9 March 2008). "LoC home for vanishing goats". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on May 26, 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2015.
  3. ^ "Naltar Wildlife Sanctuary". Wildlife sanctuaries/Game reserves. Wildlife of Pakistan. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
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