The COLLECTA 2013 Tadjik markhor: A walkaround by Kikimalou

With its spectacular twisting horns, the markhor is one of the most striking of goats (Capra spp.), and owing to its size, also one of the most imposing. The colour and length of the coat varies with the seasons, with the short reddish-grey summer coat becoming longer and greyer over the cold winter months. In addition to the prominent horns, which can reach up to 1.6 metres, the stocky male has a black beard and a shaggy mane of long dark hairs that hangs down from the neck. The female is shorter, more slender, and has comparatively small horns, reaching only 25 centimetres in length.
The Bukharan Markhor or Tadjik Markhor (Capra falconeri heptneri) is one of the subspecies,native to Tajikistan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, possibly also Afghanistan.
Like many other wild goats, the markhor is a skilled, nimble climber, and will often be seen perched on precipitous rock faces, away from the threat of predators, such as snow leopards, wolves and lynxes. As a diurnal species, it is typically active during the day, with early mornings and late afternoons being the periods of peak activity. Living at high elevations, around and above the tree-line, the markhor may be found in a range of environments including steep gorges, rocky areas, scrub forest and grassy meadows. For most of the year, the females and young live in small herds (average of around nine individuals), while the males normally live alone. (tanks Arrkive and Wikipedia )
The Markhor is a really rarely seen citizen in the Animal toys jungle, so it is really a great news to have one on our shelves for 2013.