Markhor

The markhor (Capra falconeri) is one of the largest and most magnificent members of the Caprinae or goat family, and it is the official “National Animal of Pakistan.” It has perhaps the most impressive horns of the family, with huge, spiraled, twisting horns that are either straight or flaring in outline depending on the subspecies.

Markhor are incredible climbers, scaling cliffs with ease and even climbing into oak trees to feed on leaves. Threats include intense hunting pressure, increasing competition from domestic goats and sheep, and disease outbreaks from the increased contact with livestock.

While the recent historical trajectory for markhor has been a precipitous decline, the WCS community-based conservation program has had dramatic success in protecting markhor and returning them to a place of pride (and ecological and economic importance) in Gilgit-Baltistan. WCS has been working in the center of flare-horned markhor distribution since 1997. Because of this program, illegal hunting and logging have stopped in most of the valleys where WCS trained community rangers are active.

Community-managed conservancies link different village or valley organizations together for coordinated markhor monitoring and protection. Conservancies are developed through a series of consultations between WCS and key stakeholders (Wildlife and Forest Department, MCDP, communities, religious leaders, media, outfitters, and other NGOs). To formally establish conservancies, WCS develops agreements that are signed between the Forest and Wildlife Department Gilgit-Baltistan, the Chairman of the District Conservation Committees Diamer, Gilgit, Astore, Hunza-Nagar, WCS, the MCDP, and each village/valley resource organization. WCS then works with each conservancy to help them develop coordinated management plans to monitor and protect markhor. Twelve conservancies already have management plans approved by the government.

About this hunt

Hunting for one of the most desirable trophies for hunters all over the world – magnificent Astor Markhor.