https://arab.news/wtfy8
- Markhors are large wild goats native to the mountainous regions of South and Central Asia
- They are Pakistan鈥檚 national animal and are currently listed as 鈥楴ear Threatened鈥� by IUCN
KARACHI: A leading conservation group in Pakistan on Saturday praised local communities for helping protect the endangered markhor species, saying people鈥檚 efforts had reversed population decline and expanded habitat ranges, as the country marked the International Day of the Markhor.
Markhors are large wild goats native to the mountainous regions of South and Central Asia, including Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and parts of the Himalayan range. They are Pakistan鈥檚 national animal and are currently listed as 鈥淣ear Threatened鈥� by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the world鈥檚 oldest and largest global environmental network, due to habitat loss, poaching and human disturbance.
The World Wide Fund for Nature鈥檚 Pakistan office (WWF-Pakistan) credited close coordination between communities, conservationists and government departments in regions such as Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan for positive conservation outcomes.
鈥淭hrough capacity-building programs and engagement of local communities in conservation initiatives, a positive population trend has been observed in the markhor species,鈥� it said in a statement.
Observed annually on May 24, the International Day of the Markhor was designated by the United Nations General Assembly in 2024 to raise awareness of the species鈥� ecological importance and the need for its protection.
鈥淐onservation is not just about saving a species, but it is about preserving our shared future in harmony with nature,鈥� said Hammad Naqi Khan, Director General of WWF-Pakistan.
The organization noted the International Day of the Markhor was an opportunity to recognize the ecological value of mountain landscapes, raise awareness of conservation challenges and honor the communities that helped pull the species back from the brink of extinction.