Interesting Facts about Markhor Goat

 Facts about Markhor, Interesting Facts about Markhor, Markhor Facts for Kids,

Scientific Name: Capra falconeri

Other Names and/or Listed subspecies: 3 subspecies endangered:
  • Chiltan Markhor or Chiltan Wild Goat (Capra falconeri chiltanensis or Capra aegagrus chialtanensis),
  • Straight-horned Markhor (Capra falconeri jerdoni),
  • Kabul Markhor (Capra falconeri megaceros)

Group: Mammals

Status/Date Listed as Endangered:
EN-US FWS: June 14, 1976
EN-IUCN: 2008

Size:
Head-body length: 140 - 180 cm
Male weight: 80 - 110 kg
Female weight: 32 - 50 kg

Area(s) Where Listed As Endangered:
Afghanistan, Pakistan

The markhor is an Asian mountain goat species found in the western Himalayas. You really can’t miss the Markhor since they are one unique looking goat.  Besides the long furry coat the Markhor also has unusual horns.  The spiraled horns of the male can grow as long as 1.5 m (4.9′).  Meanwhile the horns of the female are not nearly as impressive as they typically grow to about 50 cm (1.9′).  Personally, I would have been impressed with the 2 foot horns on the female if it weren’t for the 5 foot long male horns. Markhors weigh between 88 and 243 lb, and males are larger than females.  The average body length is 55 to 70 inches. Their coats are grizzled light brown to black in color (depending on the subspecies), and the coats of males are usually lighter than that of females. In the summer, their coats are short and smooth, and in the winter they grow longer and thicker. Males have long hair on their chin, throat, chest, and shanks, and females have smaller fringes. Both male and female have tightly curled, corkscrew-like horns that start close together at the head and spread out toward the tips, but the horns of males grow about six times longer.

Typically these goats can be found on the mountains ranging anywhere from 600 -3600 m above sea level in scrub forests made up of primarily oaks, pines, and junipers. They are mainly active in the early morning and late afternoon. They graze mainly during the spring and summer feeding on a variety of grasses. During the autumn and winter months, they eat leaves, twigs, and shrubs. Males are solitary and females and their young live in herds of around nine. Mating occurs in the winter, and males fight for breeding rights by lunging and locking horns to make the other lose its balance. Females give birth to one to two young after a gestation period of 135 to 170 days.

Markhor Capra, Markhor Facts, Facts about Markhor, Markhor Goat


Three markhor subspecies are endangered: the Chiltan markhor or Chiltan Wild Goat (Capra falconeri chiltanensis) found in Pakistan, the Straight-horned markhor (Capra falconeri jerdoni) found in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and the Kabul markhor (Capra falconeri megaceros), also found in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Chiltan markhor may also be called Capra aegagrus chialtanensis because there is much controversy regarding its classification as aCapra falconeri subspecies, and some argue that it is a subspecies of the wild goat (Capra aegarus). All three subspecies are threatened due to hunting by humans. Their horns are prized among trophy hunters and used in the Asian medicine market. They also compete with domestic livestock and local agriculture for habitat. All three subspecies were listed as endangered in 1976, but there are no other known conservation plans for the species.

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