CHITRAL: A killer parasite has threatened the population of the endangered species of Kashmir markhor in Chitral, according to a local zoologist.

Shama Jafar told Dawn that she had found the parasite, haemonchus contortus, in markhor in the district last year during a research for master’s degree thesis.

“The parasite’s larvas were found in more than 40 per cent samples of the faeces of markhor in the 77 square kilometers park area. The samples were collected from 20 different sites at a distance of half a kilometre from each other,” he said.

The zoologist said haemonchus contortus, which caused intestinal diseases, threatened the entire population of the rare animal if appropriate steps were not taken to contain it.

“The parasite, popularly known as barber pole warm, is the greatest threat to markhor, which has already been declared the endangered species. It’s a bigger threat to (markhor) than poachers as it adversely affects the reproduction of the infected animal,” she said.

Ms Shama said a female parasite laid 5,000-10,000 eggs in a single day, which hatched out in pastures before being first ingested and then excreted by markhor in pastures.

“Haemonchus contortus’ larva nourishes on the red blood cells of the infected animal and thus, causing lethargy in it (animal) through loss of blood,” she said.

The zoologist said the parasite also caused diarrhea, dehydration and accumulation of fluid in abdomen in the infected animals.

She suggested that the wildlife department carry out a thorough study of the prevalence of the killer parasite in the park area.

When contacted, Field Biologist of WWF, Chitral Shafiqullah Khan said the prevalence of the said parasite in the healthily ecosystem was a bad news and therefore, a detailed investigation should be carried out to know its causes for corrective measures.

“Unfortunately, we are giving little importance to the protection of pasture resources in protected as well as unprotected areas though pasture management can help manage parasite,” he said.

However, acting Divisional Forest Officer of Chitral Gol National Park Division Buzurg Mohammad expressed ignorance about the prevalence of haemonchus contortus in markhor population and said by physical appearance, not a single markhor exhibited the symptoms of the disease caused by the parasite.

He said the markhor population had increased to 1,235 heads last December.

The officer said there had been no disease outbreak among markhors or other animals in the park since its establishment in 1983.