The markhor (Capra falconeri), known for its striking corkscrew-shaped horns, inhabits mountainous regions in Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. It is adapted to elevations between 600 and 3,600 metres in rugged, lightly forested terrain.
It is also Pakistan’s national animal.
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The United Nations General Assembly formally designated May 24 as the International Day of the Markhor.
The day was first marked in 2024 and calls on UN Member States, civil society, and global stakeholders to promote conservation and regional cooperation.
Despite its cultural and ecological significance, the markhor remains under threat. Habitat loss, illegal hunting, including poaching, and climate change continue to endanger the species. All recognised subspecies—including the flare-horned, straight-horned and Bukharan markhor—are considered endangered or critically endangered.
The markhor was categorised as “near threatened” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List in 2014 and has been listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) since 1992.
With an estimated 5,700 mature individuals remaining in the wild, conservationists warn that urgent action is needed. Protecting the markhor, they argue, not only safeguards biodiversity but also supports local economies and encourages sustainable tourism.