India Pakistan truce helps Markhors survive in the wild

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India-Pakistan border truce helps rare Kashmir goat

 

Thursday, 29 Apr, 2010

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A markhor is seen in captivity at Hirpora Wildlife sanctuary in south of

Srinagar in this undated handout photo. – Reuters

 

*SRINAGAR: The population of a rare mountain goat has steadily increased

after a ceasefire agreed between the Indian and Pakistani armies in 2003

along the disputed Kashmir border that runs through the goat's habitat.*

 

The markhor (Capra falconeri) was scared away or fell victim to regular

artillery duels between Indian and Pakistani troops along the LoC and had

not been seen for years before the truce was declared, wildlife officials

say.

 

The markhor, sporting a shaggy winter coat ranging from light brown to

black, is the world's largest species of goat with trademark spiralling

horns that can grow more than a metre long. That also makes the animal

prized for traditional Asian medicine.

 

“The recent and the first authentic census in Qazinag park shows the

presence of at least 300 animals. This is a very significant number,” said

Abdul Rauf Zargar, a wildlife warden responsible for the high-altitude

markhor sanctuary.

 

A 2005 survey by wildlife experts sighted only 115 markhors in the area.

 

“One of the main reasons behind the markhor's comeback is peace on the

border,” Zargar said.

 

“I am sure on the other side of the LoC (Pakistani Kashmir), the population

has also increased. Now the only worry about the markhor's future is the

electrified fence along the LoC.”

 

The Indian army built a three-metre-high (10 feet) barbed wire fence along

much of the LoC to stop incursions of separatists from

Pakistani-administered Kashmir. The fence passes through the markhor's

natural habitat.

 

The goat lives in semi-arid cliffside mountain areas of India, Pakistan,

Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Hunted for its horns,

hoofs and meat for years, it is listed as endangered by wildlife

conservation groups.

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