WildAID are now
in Kashmir to motivate the public to prevent cruelty to animals and
to promote animal welfare and conservation policies that advance the
well being of both animal and people. Small, but effective, seeking
to prevent further destruction of Kashmir's Wildlife and its habitat
and level the playing field by infusing resources and broad-based
support into campaigns to protect wildlife, captive-held animals,
and biodiversity wildlife rescue and rehabilitation.
WildAID Kashmir esro Kashmir Chapter sharing a vision of a world
where wildlife and wild places are truly protected.
SPECIES SPECIFIC CONSERVATION PROG.
MARKHOR
Mute
Herbivore
Markhors, keep
balance of Himalayan arid and steppe terrains at over 3,000 meter
altitude. The animal has been hunted for its long curly horns often
kept as trophies. The Markhor's population dipped from 25,000 in
1970 in the entire region to less than a few hundred at present, 280
to 300 markhors may be scattered in western Himalayas regions of
India bordering Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and
Uzbekistan. The Hirpura Wildlife Sanctuary and Kaj-I-Nag range of
Kashmir are the potential 'source population' for conservation of
the Markhor goat.
Loss of habitat and poaching have made it endangered. Soon we may
lose sight of wondrous corkscrew-horned markhors, the high altitude
Goats. Habitat disturbance from the Indo-Pak thaw and large scale
poaching of the animal during the late eighties and nineties for
trophies (corkscrew horn) and their meat as a local platter.
Degradation of their habitat and human encroachment are the major
reasons for their gradual disappearance. Besides, lucration of
markhors' wondrous corkscrew horns fetching about $18,000 per pairs
at international markets is unavoidable in most cases. Almost every
part of the animal is used."This is a forest species but in summer
moves to the edge when graziers bring flocks of sheep. They descend
to lower altitudes in winter, as higher altitudes go under snow.
This is when they get killed. They always find food within forest as
there are snowfree patches under trees.
Markhor , though
it's a protected animal under the States Wildlife Protection Act and
included in the schedule 1 list as is considered nearing extinction
in India. International Union for Convention of Nature and Natural
Flora and Fauna (IUCN) has removed markhors from its earlier
`Endangered' (1994) category to `Critically Endangered' in 2004.
Markhor Myth
Persian name of markhor - snake eater . Unmistakable Myth, by which
animal is known elsewhere, is rather strange, for there is no proof
on record that the animal actually eats snake. There is a belief
among the natives in Baltistan that the animal does eat a snake
sometimes, may be as medicine. And while doing so, they tell us, the
animal froths profusely at the mouth. According to them, the
Zaharmohr, or serpentine found among the rocks is the froth fallen
from the mouth of the markhor, and solidifies on the rocks. So
strong is this belief among the Dards that they hang markhor skins
in their houses, believing that no snake would dare enter into them.
Snakes are rare in these parts and the story about the markhor
eating snakes require more substantial testimony. More plausible
reason why the marrkhor is so called may be because of his spiralled
, snake like horns. Markhor might well be a corruption of mar-khar,
i.e., an "ass" with horns like a "snake".
seeking human survival through wildlife protection...
Described as King of the wild
goats, is a thick set goat, measuring from 36 to 41 inches at
the shoulder and varies from 180 to 220 lbs in weight.
Male carries a fine , flowing beard, usually black, under his
chin. This extends in the case of older bucks up to the throat
and chest and from thence to the ears and nape of the neck. The
animal thus has a grand paternal look, especially when, standing
on a rock, the beard flaps in the wind. The beard in old bucks
is sometimes white. The hair on the body is elongated and of a
light yellowish or grey shade, and at times , almost white or
reddish brown. So also is the lengthly mane.
Like, shapo, markhor also do not grow an under fleece in winter.
Markhor can not stand the snow. That Obviously is why the animal
has been provided with long, silky hair.Unlike the scimitar
shaped horns of the ibex, the horns of markhor are spiralled,
like a cork screw. Horns measuring 45 inches or so are usual,
though some of 55 inches have also been reported.
eIEN South Asia
Western Himalaya Kashmir
WildAID KASHMIR
allowing threatened species to recover safe levels in Kashmir
esrokashmir.org
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Welcome at
WAID
eIEN South Asia
Western Himalaya Kashmir
WildAID are now in Kashmir to motivate the public to prevent cruelty to animals and to promote animal welfare and conservation policies that advance the well being of both animal and people. Small, but effective, seeking to prevent further destruction of Kashmir's Wildlife and its habitat and level the playing field by infusing resources and broad-based support into campaigns to protect wildlife, captive-held animals, and biodiversity wildlife rescue and rehabilitation. WildAID Kashmir esro Kashmir Chapter sharing a vision of a world where wildlife and wild places are truly protected.
SPECIES SPECIFIC CONSERVATION PROG.
MARKHOR
Mute Herbivore
Markhors, keep balance of Himalayan arid and steppe terrains at over 3,000 meter altitude. The animal has been hunted for its long curly horns often kept as trophies. The Markhor's population dipped from 25,000 in 1970 in the entire region to less than a few hundred at present, 280 to 300 markhors may be scattered in western Himalayas regions of India bordering Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The Hirpura Wildlife Sanctuary and Kaj-I-Nag range of Kashmir are the potential 'source population' for conservation of the Markhor goat.
Loss of habitat and poaching have made it endangered. Soon we may lose sight of wondrous corkscrew-horned markhors, the high altitude Goats. Habitat disturbance from the Indo-Pak thaw and large scale poaching of the animal during the late eighties and nineties for trophies (corkscrew horn) and their meat as a local platter. Degradation of their habitat and human encroachment are the major reasons for their gradual disappearance. Besides, lucration of markhors' wondrous corkscrew horns fetching about $18,000 per pairs at international markets is unavoidable in most cases. Almost every part of the animal is used."This is a forest species but in summer moves to the edge when graziers bring flocks of sheep. They descend to lower altitudes in winter, as higher altitudes go under snow. This is when they get killed. They always find food within forest as there are snowfree patches under trees.
Markhor , though it's a protected animal under the States Wildlife Protection Act and included in the schedule 1 list as is considered nearing extinction in India. International Union for Convention of Nature and Natural Flora and Fauna (IUCN) has removed markhors from its earlier `Endangered' (1994) category to `Critically Endangered' in 2004.
Markhor Myth
Persian name of markhor - snake eater . Unmistakable Myth, by which animal is known elsewhere, is rather strange, for there is no proof on record that the animal actually eats snake. There is a belief among the natives in Baltistan that the animal does eat a snake sometimes, may be as medicine. And while doing so, they tell us, the animal froths profusely at the mouth. According to them, the Zaharmohr, or serpentine found among the rocks is the froth fallen from the mouth of the markhor, and solidifies on the rocks. So strong is this belief among the Dards that they hang markhor skins in their houses, believing that no snake would dare enter into them. Snakes are rare in these parts and the story about the markhor eating snakes require more substantial testimony. More plausible reason why the marrkhor is so called may be because of his spiralled , snake like horns. Markhor might well be a corruption of mar-khar, i.e., an "ass" with horns like a "snake".
seeking human survival through wildlife protection...
About Markhor
Described as King of the wild goats, is a thick set goat, measuring from 36 to 41 inches at the shoulder and varies from 180 to 220 lbs in weight.
Male carries a fine , flowing beard, usually black, under his chin. This extends in the case of older bucks up to the throat and chest and from thence to the ears and nape of the neck. The animal thus has a grand paternal look, especially when, standing on a rock, the beard flaps in the wind. The beard in old bucks is sometimes white. The hair on the body is elongated and of a light yellowish or grey shade, and at times , almost white or reddish brown. So also is the lengthly mane.
Like, shapo, markhor also do not grow an under fleece in winter. Markhor can not stand the snow. That Obviously is why the animal has been provided with long, silky hair.Unlike the scimitar shaped horns of the ibex, the horns of markhor are spiralled, like a cork screw. Horns measuring 45 inches or so are usual, though some of 55 inches have also been reported.