O P Sharma
Markhor called Rache Rapoche in Ladakhi, Boom Mayaro in Shina, Pachin Sara in Baluchi and Marumay in Pashto, a schedule -1 species under J&K Wildlife Protection Act 1978 is the nearest wild relative of domesticated goat found in rugged terrain of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikestan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. It is found in Poonchh, Shopian and Baramulla within Indian limits and is National Animal of Pakistan with majestic spirally twisted horns, flowing beard and unique stamina to scale precipitous mountain cliffs and gorges and tide over freezing winter in mountain caves surviving by eating twigs and foliage of palatable bushes and trees . Scientifically known as Capra falconerii, its common name Markhor derived from Persian language signifies serpentine twisted horn morphology . Myth associated with it tells that Markhor is a snake eater or has a ability to kill snakes but science has got no such evidence and use of its frothy foam to treat snakes is also not based on facts.
Markhor is a bovid with a four chambered stomach and is a ruminant like our goat and sheep .It stands 65 to 115 cm at the shoulder ,132 to 186 cm in length with 32 to 110 kilograms . Horns of male grows upto 160 cm but in females length is upto 25 cm .Markhor usually inhabits scrub forests made up of woody flora.
Markhor habitat got disturbed as a result of Mughal road construction but Apex court intervened and directed J&K Govt to have Markhor Recovery Project and Kazinag National Park was declared in 2009 out of existing Nanganeri Conservation Reserve ,Limber Wildlife sanctuary and Lachhipora Wildlife sanctuary . Additional Markhor areas stand added to existing Heerpora Wildlife Sanctuary in lieu of Wildlife area diverted for Mughal road construction.
To have sightings of the mountain goat Markhor and know the health of Markhor Protected Areas in Kashmir, Heerpora wildlife sanctuary and Kazinag National Park a team of wildlife officials and researchers under the guidance and support of the author and Tahir Shawl Wildlife Warden visited them recently. Insights obtained in two visits to two locations are detailed as under :
The visit highlighted the fact that the area is under intensive domestic grazing and Markhor population previously thriving in the area and having an overlapping grazing and browsing food requirements with domestic goat and sheep has now got displaced in distress to other safe corners beyond Begumpathri , known hub of nomadic graziers.To safeguard the interests of declining Endangered Markhor ,immediate Grazing Regulation Action Plan need to be formulated in consultation with stakeholders and Wildlife Department, otherwise Markhor living on the edge is sure to vanish from Heerpora .Degraded habitat of Heerpora has grazing pressure beyond its carrying capacity and palatable plant diversity is being replaced by unpalatable Thistles, Nettles,Velvet Docks, Stipa sibirica grass .Alarming flocks of sheep and goat seen all along our trek made our Markhor sighting an elusive dream . Juniper bushes seen lopped for fuel by nomadic graziers was another grim pointer towards depleting browsing material and much needed ground thickets cover to check glacial erosion along Heerpora slopes towards Mughal road during the winter season.Agency in charge of Mughal road need to put engineering soil conservation measures all along vulnerable stretches of road in the interest of Markhor conservation. Shortage of Wildlife staff at Heerpora was identified as another serious bottleneck in the effective surveillance of the area. Due to anthropogenic pressure ,Markhor female fawn ratio is disappointing in the Heerpora and need to be addressed fast .
Better protected Kazinag with a assured Markhor sighting and rich bloom diversity proved a promising Wildlife Ecotourism Destination provided trained guides get ecotourism training, locals get involved in providing homestay ,artists present Markhor skits and songs to allure tourists and trekkers ,Wildlife Department establishes a high Markhor Viewing Tower at the base of Kazinag National Park and runs few green fuel driven vehicles to connect tourists with nearby tourist spots like Uri Hydel Project ,Aman Setu at Uri, 7th Century old Boniyar temple and old mosques and Gurdwaras located at Baramulla . Markhor wooden art and craft and magnificent Markhor Marionettes used in Afghan puppet shows called Buzbaz can be introduced at Peer ki Gali Heerpora and Baba Gail Limbar in Kazinag to allure ecotourists.
(The author is an IFS Officer)
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