Turkmenian Markhor
You’ve never seen horns like these. We are home to male, ‘Cliff’, and sisters, ‘Cy’ and ‘Phoenix’.
Horns stretching high in high altitudes
Markhor are the largest of all wild goat species and are well-adapted to elevations ranging from 600 to 3,600 metres, where they climb and jump with ease. They are known for their impressive corkscrew-shaped horns, which can reach up to 160 centimetres in length in males. While both males and females grow horns, this species is sexually dimorphic, with females having shorter horns and shorter hair.
- IUCN Red List Status: Near Threatened (likely to become vulnerable in the near future)
- Type: Mammal
- Habitat: Western and central Asia’s mountains and monsoon forests
- Diet: Herbivore – grasses, leaves, and shoots
- Size: 65 to 115 centimetres tall at the shoulder
- Weight: 32 to 110 kilograms
Facts about our animals
Fun Facts about Turkmenian Markhor
Markhor are the only goat species that have adapted to live in Pakistan’s northern mountains.
They have wide hooves to help them navigate difficult terrain.
Their hair can be brown, grey-black, white, or tan, or a combination of these shades.
Males produce a strong, distinctive odour, which is used for scent marking and attracting mates.
When threatened, they have an alarm call like a goat’s bleating.
In winter, they descend to lower altitudes to avoid extreme cold.
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