Overview
The horns are relatively straight and in the form of a bold, tight corkscrew. This subspecies is the one commonly seen in zoos and game parks worldwide.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammal
- Order
- Artiodactyla
- Family
- Bovidae
- Genus
- Capra
- Species
- Capra falconeri
Habitat
This markhor is not a high altitude animal because it generally avoids deep snow and the cold. They avoid the higher elevations inhabited by Himalayan ibex but remain close to precipitous mountain sides. Distribution- Formerly in most of the mountains along the north banks of the upper Amu Darya and Pyandzh rivers from Turkmenistan to Tajikistan. Now reduced to scattered populations in the Kugitang range of extreme eastern Turkmenistan and southeastern Uzbekistan, in the area between the Pyandzh and Vakhsh rivers in southwestern Tajikistan, and in the northwestern part of the Darwaz Peninsula of northeastern Afghanistan near the Tajik border.
Diet
Their diets shift seasonally; In the spring and summer periods they graze, but turn to browsing in winter, sometimes standing on their hind legs to reach high branches.
Behavior
The mating season occurs in winter, during which the males fight each other. The gestation period lasts 135 to 170 days, after which usually one or two offspring are born. The Markhor live in flocks, numbering usually close to ten animals, composed of adult females and their offspring. Adult males are largely solitary. Their alarm call closely resembles the bleating of domestic goats.
Hunting
Difficulty varies when hunting markhor, depending on terrain and weather. When these animals are on cliffsides or out of shooting range, hunters must be patient, as the markhor will frequent a water resource every other day. Most hunting is done on foot but some driving may be needed.
Conservation Status
Listed as Near Threatened by IUCN.