National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan

The markhor is listed in the Red Data Book of the Republic of Uzbekistan and on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. It belongs to a locally distributed subspecies that is considered threatened. The name “markhor” is derived from Persian: mar meaning “snake” and khor meaning “eater,” literally translating as “snake eater.” This name is believed to originate from the animal’s distinctive large spiral horns, which resemble coiled snakes.

The chukar partridge is a medium-sized bird characterized by its reddish-pink head and neck, pale underparts, and distinctive black bars along its flanks. It inhabits mountainous and foothill areas, nesting under vegetation. Females typically lay between 7 and 22 eggs in May, and the chicks hatch in May and June after an incubation period of approximately 24 days.

For reference: The Surkhan State Nature Reserve was established on 8 September 1986 in Sherabad District of Surkhandarya Region. The reserve is home to approximately 200 animal species, more than 20 of which are listed in the Red Book of Uzbekistan. Among its most notable inhabitants are the markhor and the Bukhara urial.