Conservation status of Himalayan grey goral (Naemorhedus goral bedfordi Hardwicke,1825) in Machiara National Park,Azad Jammu and Kashmir,Pakistan

Current population and conservation status of himalayan grey goral (naemorhedus goral bedfordi) was assessed in machiara national park (mnp),azad jammu and kashmir (aj & k),during april-december,2011. direct (sighting during dawn and dusk and signs) and indirect (using questionnaires) methods were used to survey three union councils (uc) and 22 localities. a population of 91 animals was recorded with a density of 1.92 goral/km2; the highest density was recorded at ravri (4 goral/km2; uc machiara). illegal hunting of 24 goral during 2000-2011 was reported by aj & k wildlife department,of which nine were reported from protected areas and two from mnp. despite the protected status of goral under aj & k wildlife act,habitat destruction,illegal hunting,poaching,over-grazing by livestock and human disturbance are the major threats to future conservation of grey goral. copyright 2015 zoological society of pakistan.