Kashmir: Alleged Markhor Poaching in Kazinag Sparks Outcry, Civil Society Seeks Probe | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: Serious allegations of Markhor poaching and the illegal smuggling of its heads and horns from the Kazinag National Park landscape have triggered widespread concern and sharp criticism of wildlife governance in Jammu and Kashmir, with multiple civil society organisations demanding an independent, time-bound inquiry and a comprehensive audit of conservation programmes.

In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, platforms including the JK RTI Movement, Pir Panjal Conservation Foundation, Forest Rights Coalition–Jammu Kashmir, Civil Society for Justice Development, Gujjar-Bakerwal Youth Welfare Conference, and the Nature Conservancy Alliance expressed “deep shock and grave concern” over reports that a Schedule-I protected Markhor (Capra falconeri) may have been killed, allegedly with the involvement of individuals linked to the Department of Wildlife Protection and the much-publicised “Markhor Watchers” programme.

The matter, first reported in the public domain and formally brought to the notice of the Forest Department by the Environmental Policy Group (EPG), centres around a purported video showing the killing of a Markhor and the removal of its trophy. If substantiated, the organisations said, the incident represents not only a grave criminal offence under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, but also an “ecological crime against the people of Jammu Kashmir”.

The Markhor, India’s only viable population of which survives in Kazinag, is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. Conservation groups warned that any act of hunting, facilitation, concealment, or illegal trade involving the species points to a dangerous collapse of institutional oversight and ethical responsibility within the wildlife protection framework.

Raising concerns over what they termed the “hollowing out” of community-based conservation, the signatories said that if individuals trained and funded as wildlife protectors are found complicit in poaching, it constitutes a profound breach of public trust. They also cautioned against attempts to deflect blame onto local pastoral communities, particularly Gujjars and Bakerwals, arguing that indigenous groups with a long history of coexistence with wildlife must not be scapegoated to shield influential NGOs, consultants, or officials.

The statement further questioned the utilisation of public and donor funds, noting that crores of rupees have reportedly been spent over the past decade on Markhor recovery programmes. “Allegations of poaching, compromised monitoring systems, and opaque NGO partnerships expose a disturbing gap between official claims and ground realities,” it said, posing pointed questions about beneficiaries, outcomes, and independent verification of conservation claims.

Sharp criticism was also directed at the functioning of the Jammu & Kashmir Wildlife Board, which the organisations alleged has increasingly operated as a “rubber-stamp body” rather than an independent statutory authority. They claimed that individuals lacking academic credentials, field experience, or credible contributions to wildlife conservation have been appointed to the Board, undermining scientific decision-making and enabling the sanitisation of questionable practices.

Equally concerning, according to the joint statement, is the monopolisation of wildlife conservation projects by a handful of NGOs. The groups alleged that an entrenched NGO–official nexus has converted conservation into a funding-driven industry, marginalised local communities and independent experts, suppressed dissent, and evaded accountability under the guise of protecting biodiversity.

In response to the unfolding controversy, the civil society platforms have placed a set of demands before the administration. These include the constitution of a Special Investigation Team or independent inquiry into the alleged poaching incident; a special audit followed by a social audit of all funds spent on Markhor conservation; strict legal action and recovery of public funds in cases of misuse; and the reconstitution of the Wildlife Board with transparent criteria and qualified experts.

They have also called for an end to NGO monopolies through open and competitive processes, mandatory public disclosures under the RTI Act, and a shift towards rights-based, community-led conservation aligned with the Forest Rights Act and pastoral livelihoods.

“Wildlife conservation cannot survive on glossy reports, inflated budgets, and compromised institutions,” the statement said, warning that the death of a Markhor is emblematic of deeper institutional failure. The organisations vowed to pursue the issue through RTI applications, legal action, public consultations, and sustained civic pressure until transparency, accountability, and justice are ensured.