The mammals are the class of vertebrate animals characterized by the presence of mammary glands, the presence of hair or fur; specialized teeth; the presence of a neocortex region in the brain; and endothermic or 'warm-blooded' bodies. The brain regulates endothermic and circulatory system, including a four-chambered heart. In India there are 410 species, 186 genera, 45 families and 13 orders of which nearly 89 species are listed as threatened in the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Animals (IUCN 2006).

The markhor (Capra falconeri) is a large species of wild goat that is found in northeastern Afghanistan, northern and central Pakistan, Kashmir, southern Tajikistan and southern Uzbekistan. Markhor are adapted to mountainous terrain, and can be found between 600 and 3,600 meters in elevation. They typically inhabit scrub forests. They are diurnal, and are mainly active in the early morning and late afternoon. Currently, only three subspecies of markhor are recognised by the IUCN. The Astor markhor (Capra falconeri falconeri) has large, flat horns, branching out very widely and then going up nearly straight with only a half turn. In India, this subspecies is restricted to a portion of the Pir Panjal range in southwestern Jammu and Kashmir.

IUCN Status: Near Threatened (NT) (LC) Photo: Josh More