| Astor markhor | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Artiodactyla |
| Family: | Bovidae |
| Subfamily: | Caprinae |
| Genus: | Capra |
| Species: | |
| Subspecies: | C. f. falconeri |
| Trinomial name | |
| Capra falconeri falconeri (Wagner, 1839) | |
| Synonyms | |
Aegoceros falconeri falconeriWagner, 1839 | |
TheAstor markhor (Capra falconeri falconeri) orflare-horned markhor is amarkhor subspecies native toAfghanistan,Pakistan andIndia.[1]
The Astor markhor lives in the scrubland and open woodland that clothe the rugged slopes of the mountains among which it lives at altitudes of up to 3,600 m (11,800 ft). It seldom goes above the tree line; in summer it feeds largely on grasses and leaves but in winter it mainlybrowses on shrubs and woody material. One or two kids are born after a gestation period of 135 to 170 days. The goats are hunted bysnow leopards,wolves andlynx, and the kids may fall prey togolden eagles.[citation needed]
The 2011 estimate for the total population is around 5,800 individuals, divided into several sub-populations, with only one exceeding 1,000 individuals. The main threat they face is being hunted. Even where the animal is protected by legislation as in Afghanistan, poaching takes place and the ban on hunting is not enforced. In India it is fully protected and is present in three wildlife reserves, theLimber Wildlife Sanctuary, and the Lachipora Wildlife Sanctuary and the Hirapora Wildlife Sanctuary.[citation needed] These three areas are planned to be combined to create theKazinag National Park in order to protect the Astor markhor and other mammals such as thesnow leopard and theHimalayan brown bear.[2] In Pakistan, the Astor markhor is present inNaltar Wildlife Sanctuary in the northern part of the country.[3]