Protected animals in my country Pakistan

Hello everyone!

Markhor is the national animal of Pakistan and it is the protected animal of Pakistan.

Image by Светлана from Pixabay

The Markhor is also known as Capra falconeri. This is the Pakistan’s proud national animal. It is a majestic wild goat. It is famous for it's twisted horns. It can climb the mountains easily. So this is not a simple goat. It is found in the northern and western areas of Pakistan such as in Gilgit-Baltistan, Chitral, and some parts of Balochistan. The Markhor is an iconic symbol of the heritage of my country.

Animal Population Status

The population of Markhor has decreased drastically because of the hunting and due to the loss of habitat. Competition of domestic live stock is also another reason for the decline in the population of this animal. By the early 2000s less than 2500 animals were estimated to remain in the country. But due to the good conservation strategies the problem population of Markhor has shown positive signs of recovery.

Image by Ralph from Pixabay

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature the Markhor has been downgraded from Endangered to Neat Threatened animals. It is because of the community based conservation programs in Pakistan.

Causes of Threat and Regional Significance

Markhors face threats from the destruction of habitat which is caused by the deforestation and overgrazing. The change in the climate is another major threat to Markhors. Their horns are very valuable and unique so people hunt them for the horns.

Image by Nick Sokolov from Pixabay

Markhor is a cultural and ecological symbol of Pakistan. The presence of Markhors is often linked with the health of the mountains and it's ecosystem. They are the source of pride and they are the identify in the local folklore and national symbol.

Legal Status and Protection Laws

Pakistan has adopted a number of steps to protect the Markhor under the national and provincial laws. Done of them are given below:

• The Pakistan Wildlife Ordinance, 1979 provides legal protection to the endangered species including the Markhor.
• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES): The Markhor is listed in Appendix I and it prohibits the international trade of Markhor except in exceptional cases.
• In areas like the Trophy Hunting Program in Chitral and Gilgit-Baltistan sustainable hunting permits are auctioned. The local communities are encouraged to protect Markhor instead of hunting them.

Through these combined legal and community efforts Pakistan continues to protect its national treasure and serve as an example for conservation across the region.

I invite @sualeha, @sergeyk and @nanidi to join this contest.