A Critical Analysis of Capra falconeri cashmiriensis Habitat from Kazinag National Park of Jammu and Kashmir, India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55544/jrasb.5.4.2Keywords:
Capra falconeri cashmiriensis, habitat survey, DNA extractionAbstract
The habitat and ecology survey of Capra falconeri cashmiriensis commonly called as “Markhor” was to explore their habitat choices, diet preferences, and human-wildlife conflicts, in its distribution range. In India, the distribution range of Markhor is mainly confined to Kashmir. It is listed as "Near Threatened" by the IUCN Red List and it is a genetically unexplored and data-deficient goat. During survey, we identified the potential habitat of Markhor in Kazinag National Park of Kashmir by repeated observance and photographic approaches and also collected the faecal samples of Markhor from different locations within the National Park to obtain the genomic DNA (fig.3). Approximately 150 specimens were recorded during the survey. Diet analysis reveals flexible food preferences. Study revealed that Markhors are found to explore steep mountains areas exhibiting a flexible diet preference which ensures its continued survival during the harsh winter seasons. The successful extraction of genomic DNA using faecal samples will provide opportunities to generate molecular database and its implications on conservation genetics of this robust wild goat in future.
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