(Web Desk) – International Day of the Markhor, the national animal of Pakistan, is being observed worldwide today (Sunday) to raise awareness about wildlife conservation and the protection of fragile mountain ecosystems.
The United Nations General Assembly officially designated May 24 as the International Day of the Markhor through a resolution adopted on May 2, 2024. The initiative was led by Pakistan and co-sponsored by eight other countries to highlight the importance of conserving the endangered screw-horned wild goat and its natural habitat.
This year’s theme, “Markhor and Mountain Biodiversity: Strengthening Global Efforts for Ecosystem Conservation and Sustainable Development,” focuses on preserving biodiversity in mountainous regions and promoting sustainable environmental policies.
Known for its distinctive spiral horns, the markhor (Capra falconeri) is regarded as one of the most iconic wildlife species of Central and South Asia. The animal is found in mountainous areas of Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Pakistan is home to several subspecies of the markhor, including the Astor, Kashmir and Suleiman markhor, mainly found in the northern mountainous regions such as Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
Conservation experts say the species continues to face major threats including habitat destruction, illegal hunting, poaching and the growing impact of climate change on mountain ecosystems.
Despite these challenges, Pakistan’s community-based conservation programmes have helped improve markhor populations in recent years through stricter wildlife protection measures and regulated trophy hunting schemes that support local communities.
The markhor was listed as “Near Threatened” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in 2014 and has remained under Appendix I protection of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora since 1992, prohibiting international commercial trade of the species.