Monarchs of the mountains
While one side of the Kajinag National Park is home to the markhor, the elusive wild goat with spiralling horns, the other side boasts a variety of birds, including the flamboyant Khalij pheasant, the national bird of Jammu and Kashmir.
Published :
Apr 02, 2022 06:00
IST
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The markhor features in the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s red list of threatened species. ▲
The markhor is an elusive animal, so it is not easy to spot it. ▲
Jainy Maria Kuriakose at the Kajinag National Park. ▲
With a flowing beard, the markhor looks like a character in ‘Tales from the Arabian Nights’. ▲
The varied terrain of the Kajinag National Park includes rocks, grasslands, scrub jungles and pine trees. ▲
The cheer pheasant (Catreus wallichii), also known as Wallich’s pheasant, is a vulnerable species of the pheasant family, Phasianidae. ▲
The koklass pheasant, commonly found in Kazinag. ▲
The Khalij pheasant, the national bird of Jammu and Kashmir. ▲
The orange bullfinch, another bird species endemic to the Kashmir valley. ▲
The Kashmir nutcracker (Nucifraga multipunctata) is a jay-like bird with a long pointed bill, a black cap, and white spots all over. ▲
The metallic blue Himalayan monal, with its fine dark crest and blue eye patches, is one of the attractions at the Kajinag National Park. ▲
The tawny owl, believed to be endemic to Kashmir. ▲
The western tragopan is mostly seen in the greater Himalaya National Park, and has also been spotted in Kajinag. ▲
The Kashmir nutthatch, a species of bird in the family Sittidae, is found primarily in the mid-altitudes of the Himalayas. ▲
Dr Jainy Maria Kuriakose. ▲ 
