Torghar is located in Killa Saifullah District, Balochistan Province, Pakistan and is the northern most part of Toba Kakar Range. The area is approximately 90 km long and 20 to 25 km wide. The altitude varies between 2,500-3,300 meters. There is a strong seasonality in climate, both in temperature and precipitation. Summer temperatures are hot, up to 35 C. winters are cold-sometimes as low as – 15º C, there is a strong variation between day and night temperatures. Precipitation during the winter (end December to end February) mostly occurs as snow. Rainfall is light and variable, with the annual average about 200-250 mm. March and April are the rainiest months, and some summer rainfall is received in July and August.
The Sulaiman Markhor is found in the Torghar Range in Western Central Pakistan, 7 hours drive from Quetta. In particular the Torghar Mountains are a conservation area and one of the few habitats of the, straight horned Markhor. This project runs successfully by STEP (Society for Torghar Environmental protection). November thru March is the hunting season. Compare to the other species, they live in a clearer and drier climate at an altitude of between 7500´ and 9000´.
Hunting the Afghan Urial and the Markhor can be combined in Torghar region. The Afghan Urial, with horns between 28in and 34in, may be hunted in the Torghar Mountains. Amongst countries which allow hunting, this is the region which has the finest trophies and true Afghan Urial. The black & white bib is their characteristics and November thru March is the best hunting months.
In the 1950s the mountains of northern Balochistan were rich in wildlife and held significant populations of Suleiman markhor, Afghan urial, leopards, Asiatic black bears, Ursus thibetanus, etc. Due to uncontrolled hunting, accelerated by the easy availability of cheap automatic weapons from the political unrest in Afghanistan, the leopard and the black bear, were either wiped out or were on the verge of extinction in the Torghar Hills by the mid 1980s, and the total combined population of markhor and urial was estimated at about 200 heads
There now remain small populations of the following species: Suleiman markhor, Afghan urial, wolf, Canis lupus, hyaena, Hyaena hyaena, fox, Vulpes vulpes and V. cana, Pallas’s cat, Felis manul, steppe wild cat, F. sylvestris ornata, and stone marten, Martes foina. The porcupine, which in the past was controlled by the leopard, is now a serious agricultural pest. However, the TCP is prepared to help reintroduce the leopard if the people wish it. Small mammals include the pika, Ochotona rufescens, and the Afghan mole vole, Ellobius fuscocapillus. About 78 bird species have been recorded, many of which breed in the area. The area is rich in reptiles, including the horned viper and the leaf nosed viper.
