- Where to see one
- 4 U.S. zoos in our directory hold markhor, confirmed against each zoo's own animal list.
Conservation status
Not Evaluated
This species has not been assessed for the IUCN Red List, so it sits outside the threat scale entirely.
About the markhor
The markhor is a large wild goat of the genus Capra, native to the mountain regions of Central and South Asia, including the Karakoram and Himalayas. It lives at elevations of 600 to 3,600 m (2,000 to 11,800 ft) in shrub forests of oak, pine and juniper. Both sexes have tightly curled, corkscrew-like horns, which in males can grow up to 160 cm (63 in) long. The animal grazes in spring and summer and browses in winter, sometimes standing on its hind legs to reach high branches. Females and their young form herds, while adult males are largely solitary. It is the national animal of Pakistan.
Markhor facts
- The name markhor is often read as Persian for snake eater, from an ancient belief that it killed and ate snakes.
- It has the highest maximum shoulder height among the species in the genus Capra.
- In winter, males fight by lunging, locking horns and trying to push each other off balance.
- Gestation lasts 135–170 days and usually results in one or two kids.
Where to see markhor in the U.S.
4 zoos across 3 states
Find the closest one
Rank the 4 zoos holding markhor by how far they are from you. Your location is used in your browser to sort this list and is never sent to us.
Massachusetts· 2
New York· 1
Utah· 1
AZAThe Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Accredited members have passed an independent inspection of animal care and welfare, safety, conservation and education, repeated every five years. Many smaller facilities never apply, so “not accredited” isn't a verdict on its own. What accreditation means · How we check this
Built from each zoo's own published animal list.
