Baramulla, Dec 7: Majestic Markhor, a wild goat with spiral-shaped horns, was seen spotted at Noorkha village of Boniyar in Baramulla district on Saturday morning.
An official said locals spotted the animal near a waterfall in Noorkha, and soon alerted the authorities, following which a team of police and wildlife officials visited the spot.
He said that this rare species has been spotted in the area for the first time. “It may have crossed over from the other side of the border,” he speculated.
The official said that efforts are on to catch the animal to ensure its safety. Locals have been advised to avoid coming close to the operation site.
Markhor, a rare and endangered species, is native to the mountainous regions of Central and South Asia, including Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
According to Britannica, Markhor, (Capra falconeri), a large wild goat of the family Bovidae (order Artiodactyla), formerly found throughout the mountains from Kashmir and Turkistan to Afghanistan but now greatly reduced in population and range.
The flare-horned Markhor occurs in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India; the straight-horned markhor lives in Afghanistan and Pakistan; and the Bukharan markhor is present in Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. All subspecies are considered endangered to critically endangered. Habitat loss, overhunting for meat and trophies, and competition from livestock are the main causes of its decline.
The Markhor stands about 95–102 cm (37–40 inches) at the shoulder and has long (up to 160 cm [63 inches]) corkscrew-shaped horns. Its coat is reddish brown in summer and long, gray, and silky in winter. The male has a long, heavy fringe on its throat and chest.