Wildlife win: Markhor population increases in Pakistan due to conservation efforts

WEB DESK: The population of Pakistan’s national animal, the Markhor, has seen a significant increase in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Conservation efforts, including hunting licences and supervision, have played a crucial role in safeguarding the Markhor breed.

The Markhor, designated as the national animal of Pakistan, faced a decline in numbers in 1994, prompting the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to take action. It was then listed as an endangered species.

Wildlife department data spanning the last 38 years reveals a notable rise in the Markhor population in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, surging from 961 to over 5,600. Noteworthy increases have been observed not only in Chitral but also in Swat and Kohistan.

By 2019, the Markhor population had reached 5,000, and wildlife officials attribute this positive trend to the prohibition of illegal hunting, rigorous monitoring, and the issuance of hunting licenses. These conservation measures have been in effect for the past two years, contributing to the resurgence of the Markhor population.

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