Status of Suleiman Markhor

Negative Incentives and Positive Required Actions in the Torghar Range, North-Eastern Balochistan, Pakistan

Authors

  • Zulekha Hassan Khan Department of Zoology, University of Balochistan Quetta – Pakistan
  • Asmatullah Kakar Department of Zoology, University of Balochistan Quetta – Pakistan
  • Bakht Zareen Department of Botany, University of Balochistan Quetta – Pakistan
  • Mohammad Niaz Khan Kakar Ten Billion Tree Tsunami Project, Forestry and Wildlife Department, Quetta – Pakistan
  • Basra Sher Department of Botany, University of Balochistan Quetta – Pakistan
  • Zafar Ullah Department of Zoology, University of Balochistan Quetta – Pakistan https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7913-9923
  • Nosheen Rafique Department of Zoology, Sardar Bahadur Khan Womens' University – Pakistan
  • Mujeeb ur Rehman Kakar Governor Secretariat, Govt of Balochistan, Quetta – Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58341/srj.v3i3.95

Abstract

This study examined the population dynamics of Suleiman Markhor (Capra falconeri jerdoni Hume, 1875) in the Torghar Hills Range, located in Western Central Pakistan, focusing on current population size, threats, and conservation strategies. The Torghar is a conservation area and one of the few habitats of this species, endemic to Balochistan and categorized as near threatened by the IUCN in 2015. Data were collected through interviews with the local inhabitants, local hunters, and Wildlife departments supplemented by relevant published literature. Results indicated that the Markhor population showed a moderate increase from 334 individuals in January 2021 to 374 individuals in the latest census conducted by the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami Program (TBTTP), Ministry of Climate Change, Forestry and Wildlife Department, Balochistan. Previous censuses in 1985 and 1987 reported fewer than 100 mature individuals, while peaks of 2541 and 3158 were recorded in 2005 and 2008 respectively in Torghar Hills.  The present study identifies anthropogenic activities climatic change, and habitat degradation as primary threats. This research provides updated population figures and highlights conservation challenges. Expanding the goat habitat is also advisable to conserve the feasible population of C. f. jerdoni in this part of the country. 

Keywords:

Population occurrence, Suleiman Markhor, Threats, Torghar mountains

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Published

2024-07-31

How to Cite

Khan, Z. H., Kakar, A., Zareen, B., Kakar, M. N. K., Sher, B., Ullah, Z., Rafique, N., & Kakar, M. ur R. (2024). Status of Suleiman Markhor: Negative Incentives and Positive Required Actions in the Torghar Range, North-Eastern Balochistan, Pakistan. Siazga Research Journal, 3(3), 296–312. https://doi.org/10.58341/srj.v3i3.95

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