Srinagar, Oct 05: Kashmir’s markhor population in the Kazinag landscape has risen nearly 71 percent from the 2005 baseline of 133 animals to an estimated 227 in 2026, with the latest assessment recording 69 kids per 100 adult females, according to a joint report by the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and J&K Wildlife Protection Department.
The report, “Recovery of Kashmir Markhor – A Threatened Mountain Ungulate in Jammu and Kashmir,” puts the 2026 Kazinag population estimate at 227 ± 13.9 animals.
The 71 percent increase is based specifically on the Kazinag 2005 baseline.
Despite fluctuations in the early surveys, the long-term trend has been upward.
The population was estimated at 152 in 2010, 142 in 2012, 187 in 2016, 184 in 2018 and 221 ± 12.5 in 2023, before reaching the 2026 estimate.
The latest assessment recorded 33 males per 100 females and 48 groups averaging 5.11 animals, with group sizes ranging from one to 18.
The assessment was conducted under the 2022-26 project period, with field monitoring over four years along 12 permanent trails covering more than 2,000 kilometres.
In the 2026 assessment, researchers recorded 600 direct sightings across four seasons in Kazinag National Park, Limber and Lachipora wildlife sanctuaries and Naganari Conservation Reserve.
Hirpora faces recovery hurdles
Unlike Kazinag, the report does not provide a comparable population estimate for Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary and therefore cannot establish a percentage increase, decline or other population trend there. Instead, it assesses habitat suitability, livestock pressure, and conservation measures.
Only 14 percent of Hirpora was rated highly suitable for summer and 11 percent for winter, compared with 50 percent and 18 percent, respectively, in Kazinag National Park.
Illegal livestock herding declined 26 percent in 2025, with more than 185 transient herders prevented from entering Hirpora without valid permits.
Livestock grazing or visits to the sanctuary fell 8 percent between 2023 and 2025, while anti-grazing camps were established at key entry points.
The project also piloted a thermal-drone survey in Hirpora, after obtaining permissions from the Wildlife Department, Army and Srinagar Air Traffic Control.
Grazing, poaching remains threats
Senior Manager and WTI Head of J&K Projects Tanushree Srivastava said human and livestock pressure remained a key challenge to markhor recovery in Hirpora.
“Rising human and livestock populations have increased competition for food and space, disease transmission and predation risks, particularly for young markhor,” Srivastava said, adding that poaching of large-bodied males remained a concern.
She said recovery measures include anti-grazing camps, regulated livestock movement, trained Markhor Watchers and frontline monitoring, with community participation in patrolling and preventing illegal grazing and poaching.
“We have identified critical markhor habitats within protected areas and are actively working to reduce livestock pressure through these measures,” Srivastava said.
Wildlife Warden North Kashmir Intesar Suhail said efforts were underway to make critical markhor habitats in Kazinag National Park and the Limber and Lachipora wildlife sanctuaries grazing-free.
“We have successfully identified several critical markhor habitats within Kazinag National Park and the Limber and Lachipora Wildlife Sanctuaries, and efforts are underway to make these areas grazing-free,” Suhail said.
He said stricter protection was enforced during the November-December rutting season and May birthing season.
Conservation expands
More than 140 frontline wildlife staff have been trained and equipped, while 44 Markhor Watchers have been trained to monitor grazing and poaching.
The project supported six homestays and 22 nature guides, while more than 70 percent of communities surveyed in Kazinag supported markhor and wildlife conservation.
A tailoring centre established in Babagail in March 2025 trained 22 women, who collectively earned Rs 72,000 between July and December 2025.
More than 250 school students were engaged through Wildlife Week activities, nature walks and painting competitions.
World’s largest wild goat
The markhor (Capra falconeri) is the world’s largest wild goat and is found in India only in Jammu and Kashmir. It is listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and classified as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List.
The report identifies livestock grazing, poaching, habitat fragmentation, roads, mining, high-tension power lines, border fencing and other infrastructure among the major threats.
Report released during Wildlife Week
The impact report, supported by the Astral Foundation, was released at the UT-level inaugural function of Wildlife Week 2026 at SKUAST-K, Shalimar.
PCCF (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden J&K Suneesh Buxy, SKUAST-K Vice-Chancellor Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai, Regional Wildlife Warden Kashmir Tawheed Ahmad Deva and CAT Srinagar Administrative Member Prashant Kumar attended the function.
The report calls for continued WTI-Wildlife Department collaboration, stronger protection and monitoring in Kazinag and Hirpora, reduced livestock pressure and wider use of thermal drones, camera traps and radio collars.
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