Markhor Molting

Markhors are an endangered species because of the hunters who want their splendid rack on their trophy wall. They are a mountain goat and the national animal of Pakistan where it is illegal to kill them. Nonetheless, trophy hunters fly into Pakistan, Afghanistan and Uzbekistan just to kill this magnificent animal. I met this one in the L.A. Zoo where he was charging and ramming a chickenwire-wrapped tree (in lieu of charging a rival, I suppose). His fur was molting and his still-growing horns snagged some of the shedding fur as he scratched himself.

This is a 24×24 portrait.