Markhor matters: This goat knows no borders

Sanjeeb Baruah

As more lands are grazed upon and barbed wire fences put across Himalayan ranges, the Kashmir markhor’s unique imprint on our ecosystem threatens to be lost for ever. For the first time, a survey on the distribution of markhor is now being carried out in the northern Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir with the combined efforts of the Wildlife Department of the state, Nature Conservation Foundation, the Wildlife Trust of India and the Indian Army.

Picture of the Markhor by Dr.Yash Veer Bhatnagar

The Kashmir valley is a tribute to nature that encompasses splendid mountains, rich green valleys, forests and lakes. These unique features support a variety of Himalayan fauna such as snow leopard, wild mountain goat, brown bear, black bear, red panda and markhor.

Today all these animals are accorded varying degrees of protection by their respective countries of habitat due to their endangered status. The IUCN has put these species in their red list declaring these animals as highly endangered and facing extinction. However, notwithstanding their protected status, wildlife continues to suffer setbacks at the hands of reckless humans who kill them for profit or in the name of tradition mercilessly extract their hoofs, horn, teeth or skin.

The Kashmir markhor is one such example. Markhor (Capra falconeri) is a member of the goat family and occupies arid cliffside mountain habitats. Markhor graze on Alpine pastures in sparsely wooded mountainous tracks with altitudes ranging from 700 meters during winter and up to 4000 meters during summer. The name Markhor is derived from the Persian mar meaning, a snake and khor, eating and because of this some people believe they eat snakes (Schaller 1977, Roberts 1997). Some researchers also believe that the name markhor came into being as a corruption of the pushto words ‘mar’ (meaning snake) and ‘akhur’ (meaning horn) – an apt description of the serpentine shape of their horns.

The main reason for the markhor’s decline is attributed to extensive hunting by the locals, disturbance, loss of habitat due to expanding human settlements and competition from domestic livestock. Markhor is also hunted for trophies, meat and also because of the belief that markhor meat contains medicinal properties. Markhor products are supplied to many Asian markets in the region.

As is this alone was not enough, markhor habitats are also facing a threat of military disturbance due to the strategic geo-political regions that the markhor occupy between India and Pakistan. A number of military pickets on both sides of the border scare these poor animals away. Huge man power deployment and artillery transportation in these areas have also contributed to habitat degradation. Moreover occasional disturbances due to artillery firing and movements of heavy vehicles add to the pressure.

Survey team in search of the Markhor

George B.Schaller quoted the Wildlife Department sources, that the total estimated population of markhor was about 250-300 in Jammu and Kashmir in 1977. T. Roberts in 1997 speculated that markhor in Pir Panjal have been practically exterminated by troops stationed in the border region. However I. Suhail and M. Baba in 2002 confirmed their presence in Limber Wildlife Sanctuary.

In India, six prominent bio-geographic zones of Baderwa-Kishtwar, Poonch, Hirpura, Gulmarg-Bonyar, Kaj-i-nag and Shamshabari covering Kashmir’s north, northwest, northeast and south province of Pir Panjal Range are important markhor bearing areas. They are also found in the Nanga Parbat areas of the Greater Himalayan Range in Pakistan. The Jammu and Kashmir government has notified many of these areas as protected areas - Limber Wildlife Sanctuary, Hirpura Wildlife Sanctuary, Lachipora Wildlife Sanctuary, Naganari Conservation Reserve, etc. In addition, Shamshabari, Poonch and Baderwa-Kishtwar regions of Kashmir also hold important bio-reserves and are considered protected.

For the first time Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) attempted to map the markhor distribution in Kashmir based on the previous distribution patterns, as reported by George B Schaller in 1977, field visits conducted by various other researchers and interviews with old shikaris. With this exhaustive survey, WTI with support from the Wildlife Department of Jammu and Kashmir and the Indian Army hopes to create a new chapter for protection and conservation of the endangered markhor in Kashmir.

Dr. M K Ranjitsingh, Trustee, Wildlife Trust of India is the principal investigator of the project and Dr Yash Veer Bhatnagar of the Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysore, is the scientific leader of the survey. The survey will include all the markhor bearing areas of Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian Army would play an important role in the survey - in providing escort and transportation of the survey team as most of these areas are remote border areas and are under direct control of the army.

Increasing human population and their large herds of cattle exert tremendous pressure on their habitats and force these animals out of their natural habitats. Sad enough, in most wild habitats there are no adequate scientific data about their present status. This information is vital for formulating strategies for conservation. According to Riyaz Ahmad Field Officer WTI, “We know the populations of these animals are gradually dwindling but we do not have any data about their numbers.” Protected Areas or Wildlife Conservation Reserves would do little if we are ignorant about their numbers or know little about their habitat conditions.

People of this part of Kashmir are traditionally pastoralists and move from place to place in search of pastures for their cattle. Gujjars and Bakkarwals are the two important pastoral communities in Kashmir and are migratory herders. Livestock consisting of sheep, goat, buffalos, horses, oxen and cows are reared as an important source of income. Numerous Gujjar and Bakkarwal hamlets occupy interiors of north and northwest Kashmir because of abundant Alpine pastures found here.

Forest being destroyed due to illegal loging activities

Goats such as the markhor are found in the same general areas as various species of sheep. Since the sheep prefer the plateaus above cliffs and the gentle sloping areas, markhor occupy cliffs and their immediate vicinity. Markhor mainly graze on tussocks of grass and when these have dried up, they browses on leaves and twigs. They forage nearly 8-12 hours daily and are usually active during early morning and afternoon. They spend the remaining part of the day on chewing cud or resting. Markhor can also climb trees in search of nutritious leaves. In 1997 George Schaller, the world renowned zoologist reported a markhor sighted on the branch of an oak tree 4-6 meters above the ground, calmly munching.”

In the early October as the leaves transform into various hues and the days grow perceptively shorter, the Kashmir markhor enter the mating cycle. They usually give birth to one or two offspring after a gestation period of 135 to 170 days. They also maintain strong social organization among themselves and a markhor herd usually consists of many females and young ones. The maximum age a markhor survives is generally 13 years.

The IUCN lists the range of Markhor from Turkmenistan to Kashmir in north India, covering countries such as Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan. There are four distinct subspecies of markhor based on the size and shape of horn but some scientists such as Schaller believe that there are only two subspecies also based on horn classification. The Kabul Markhor, (Capra falconer megaceros) the Sulaiman Markhor, (Capra falconeri jerdoni) the Kashmir or Pir Panjal Markhor, (Capra falconeri cashmiriensis) and the Astor Markhor (Capra falconer falconerii). The markhor horns are spiraling which may be straight or flare outward depending on the subspecies.

In India, markhor is included in Schedule 1 of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 and Jammu and Kashmir Wildlife (Protection) Act 1978 and as revised in 2002 amendments. In Jammu and Kashmir, Markhor occur in three wildlife sanctuaries and one conservation reserve, in all covering an area of 251.7 sq. km.

WTI from this survey, of all markhor bearing areas in Jammu and Kashmir hopes to create a scientific databank which will delineate the present status of markhor and their present habitats in the state. It holds an important significance, since in the last few decades no one has ever attempted to record their distribution or about their habitats. It has also largely remained unknown about their mysterious decline in numbers.

Years ago, herds of markhor with 100 or more individuals were common. By the 1970’s the average herd size reduced to 9, with some as large as 35 as reported by Schaller. Based on the ongoing survey, a framework will be outlined with support from the Wildlife Department of Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian Army and the local communities for the survival of this majestic goat with the trademark corkscrew horns.