IWN Report — Sunday, 18 October 2026

Numbers of the Kashmir markhor, a wild goat of the north Kashmir mountains, have risen about 71 per cent since 2005, although the latest count adds only a handful of animals to the 2023 figure, which keeps the focus on grazing pressure in its habitat.

The Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), a conservation organisation, and the Jammu and Kashmir Department of Wildlife Protection prepared the findings together in a report titled Recovery of Kashmir Markhor. According to Greater Kashmir, it was launched at the Union Territory’s inaugural Wildlife Week function at SKUAST-Kashmir in Srinagar, with support from the Astral Foundation. WTI’s own Wildlife Week round-up says the department released a four-year impact report on markhor recovery at the event.

WTI’s head of Jammu and Kashmir projects told the newspaper that rising human and livestock populations have increased competition for food and space, and that poaching of large males remains a concern. The Wildlife Warden for North Kashmir said efforts are under way to make critical areas grazing-free, and that the department enforces stricter protection during the November–December rutting season and the May birthing season.

The report estimates 227 markhor in the Kazinag landscape in 2026, with a margin of 13.9 either way, against 133 in 2005. The 2023 estimate was 221, with a margin of 12.5, so the gain of six animals falls inside the margins of error on both counts. Earlier estimates were 152 in 2010, 142 in 2012, 187 in 2016 and 184 in 2018, according to Greater Kashmir.

Teams monitored 12 permanent trails covering more than 2,000 kilometres over four years, logging 600 direct sightings across four seasons in Kazinag National Park, Limber and Lachipora wildlife sanctuaries and Naganari Conservation Reserve. The latest assessment found 69 kids for every 100 adult females and 33 males for every 100 females, in 48 groups averaging about five animals each, with group sizes ranging from one to 18.

Hirpora Habitat

The report gives no population estimate for Hirpora Wildlife Sanctuary, so it cannot show a trend there, and assesses habitat and livestock pressure instead. Only 14 per cent of Hirpora is highly suitable for markhor in summer and 11 per cent in winter, compared with 50 per cent and 18 per cent in Kazinag National Park.

Illegal livestock herding in Hirpora fell 26 per cent in 2025, and livestock visits dropped 8 per cent between 2023 and 2025 after anti-grazing camps were set up at entry points. A thermal-drone survey was piloted there with permissions from the department, the Army and Srinagar Air Traffic Control.

More than 140 frontline staff have been trained, 44 Markhor Watchers monitor grazing and poaching, and six homestays and 22 nature guides have been supported. Over 70 per cent of the Kazinag communities surveyed backed conservation. The report lists grazing, poaching, habitat fragmentation, roads, mining, power lines and border fencing as the main threats, and recommends wider use of thermal drones, camera traps and radio collars, as The Kashmir Horizon also reported.

Sources: Greater Kashmir: Kazinag markhor population hits 227, up 71% from 2005 baseline (media report on the WTI–J&K Wildlife Protection Department report) · Wildlife Trust of India: WTI Marks National Wildlife Week 2026 · The Kashmir Horizon: Kashmir Markhor population rises to 227 (media report)