Majestic Markhor

Have you ever heard of markhor?  I hadn't, but now that I know what it is I'm a bit in awe.  A markhor is the largest member of the goat family.  I'm used to seeing (on occasion) bighorn sheep in Colorado, but markhor are even more impressive and a reason why it is Pakistan's national animal.  Look at the horns on this guy.  Certainly wouldn't want to run into him in a dark alley!

Source:  Pakistan Paedia

Markhor are found in the Middle East and males can weigh up to 240 pounds and have horns up to 64 inches long.  And as you can see, the females are much smaller than the males, and although they also have horns they are on a much more diminutive scale.  They also have much shorter coats.  Markhor are grazers during the summer and browsers during the winter living at higher elevations in mountainous terrain.  But the males certainly do look distinguished, and somewhat wise.

Source:  Wikipedia

There are several subspecies of markhor, all of them endangered, some critically endangered.  They are hunted both for their meat and their horns.  Would definitely rather see those horns on live markhor, not dead ones.