5039 x 3939 px | 42,7 x 33,4 cm | 16,8 x 13,1 inches | 300dpi
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The Markhor (Capra falconeri) is a goat-antelope found in sparse woodland in the Western Himalayas. Markhor stand 65 to 115 centimetres (26 to 45 in) at the shoulder and weigh from 40 to 110 kilograms (88 to 240 lb). Females are tan in colour with a white underbelly and a pattern of black and white on the legs. Males have a lighter tan colour with the same white underbelly and pattern on the legs, as well as a black face and a large amount of long shaggy white fur on their neck and chest which can grow to knee-length. Both sexes have corkscrew-shaped horns which can grow up to 160 centimetres (63 in) long in males, and up to 25 centimetres (9.8 in) in females. Markhor are found at altitudes of 500 to 3, 500 metres (1, 600 to 11, 000 ft) where they eat grass, leaves, and whatever other vegetative matter they can find, often standing on their hind legs to reach the top leaves of trees. Markhor are crepuscular, active in the early morning and late afternoon. Females gather in herds of up to nine individuals and males are normally solitary. During mating season, males fight each other for the attention of females. These fights involve lunging until the two males' horns are locked together, and then twisting and pushing until one male falls. Markhor sound much like the domestic goat. The animal is largely found in the Northern Areas of Pakistan especially in Chitral, Diamer and Astore regions, parts of Baltistan and in Hazar Ganji Chiltan National Park near Quetta. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources has classified the Markhor as an endangered species, meaning it is in danger of facing extinction in the near future if conservation efforts are not maintained. Numbers between 2, 000 and 4, 000 exist in the wild. The Markhor is officially the National animal of Pakistan. Though their name means snake eater in Persian the Markhor is a herbivore and though it has been known to kill snakes it does not auctally eat them.
