Markhor: National Animal but about to be Endangered
The name “Markhor” is a combination of two Persian and Pashto words. “Mar” means snake and “khor” means eater. It is also known as the screw-horned goat or called ‘Shakhawat’. It is a species of large, wild goat of Bovidae family. There are also five subspecies exist.
Endangered Magestic Markhor locally found throughout the mountains from Kashmir and Turkistan to Afghanistan.Due to uncontrolled hunt by people, there number are greatly reduced. They have hairy skin and stands about 95–102 cm (37–40 inches) at the shoulder and length about 132cm 16cm (52in – 73in). In summer, its coat is reddish brown and long, gray, and silky in winter. The male has a heavy fringe throughout its throat and chest.
There lifespan is 10-13 years and weigh up to 32kg – 110kg (71IBs – 240IBs) and they ru...