Markhor census 2025-26 prep begins in Kashmir

Srinagar, Jan 15: The Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), in collaboration with the Department of Wildlife Protection, Jammu and Kashmir, on Wednesday held a day-long orientation programme to initiate preparations for the Markhor Census 2025–26.

The programme was organised amid concerns over the steady decline of the Kashmir or Pir Panjal markhor (*Capra falconeri*), the world’s largest wild goat and a near-threatened species. In India, the flare-horned subspecies is found exclusively in Jammu and Kashmir, where its population has fallen by nearly 60 per cent since 1947 due to factors including livestock grazing, infrastructure development, habitat fragmentation and increased poaching during prolonged periods of political instability.

WTI has been associated with markhor conservation since 2004, working closely with the Wildlife Protection Department, J&K, with support from the Astral Foundation. Regular population monitoring exercises and censuses have been conducted every two to three years in key protected areas.

According to officials, the 2023 census recorded 221 markhor individuals in Kazinag National Park, while sightings in Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary remained minimal.

“As part of the upcoming census exercise, population estimation surveys will be carried out in Kazinag National Park, Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary and Tatakutti Wildlife Sanctuary to assess the current status of the species across its remaining habitats in the Kashmir Himalaya,” a handout said.

The orientation programme was chaired by the Wildlife Warden, Shopian, and training was imparted by Dr Tanushree Srivastava, Manager and Head, J&K, WTI, along with Muneeb Nazir, Field Officer, WTI. The session focused on survey objectives, standardised field methodology, data recording procedures, and clearly defined roles to ensure accuracy and uniformity during the census.

Around 60 participants, including frontline wildlife staff, markhor watchers, volunteers and representatives of various organisations, attended the programme.

Officials said the census would generate critical data on the current population status and support long-term, landscape-level conservation planning for the species across the Union Territory.