International Day of the Markhor2026 · Date · History · Messages
A/RES/78/278
About International Day of the Markhor
International Day of the Markhor is observed on 24 May. The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the day through resolution A/RES/78/278, adopted on 2 May 2024.
The observance highlights conservation of the markhor, a wild goat of the mountain regions of Central and South Asia, and connects species protection with healthy ecosystems, local livelihoods and regional cooperation.
Why International Day of the Markhor matters
Markhor conservation involves more than protecting individual animals. Habitat condition, illegal hunting, community incentives, protected-area management and cross-border ecological cooperation can all affect long-term outcomes.
The day can also be used to examine how wildlife conservation and local economic interests interact. Claims about population status or conservation success should be checked against current specialist assessments rather than copied forward indefinitely.
History of International Day of the Markhor
Draft resolution A/78/L.60 was originally sponsored by Afghanistan, China, Hungary, Israel, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan; UN Pakistan describes the resolution as sponsored by Pakistan and eight other countries.
On 2 May 2024, the General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/78/278, proclaiming 24 May as the International Day of the Markhor and inviting the United Nations Environment Programme to facilitate the observance.
The first International Day of the Markhor was celebrated on 24 May 2024.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
Pakistan with Afghanistan, China, Hungary, Israel, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan as the nine original sponsors of A/78/L.60
The Digital Library lists the nine original sponsors; UN Pakistan describes the adopted resolution as sponsored by Pakistan and eight other countries.
United Nations General Assembly
UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/78/278
First documented observance
UN observance and UN Pakistan material state that the day was celebrated for the first time in 2024, on 24 May.
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
Operative paragraph 4 of A/RES/78/278 invites UNEP to facilitate the observance.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
3 fields not established in reviewed sources
How to Observe International Day of the Markhor
Learn where markhor populations occur and distinguish their mountain habitats from a generic idea of one continuous range.
Use current conservation sources to explore threats such as habitat loss, illegal hunting and climate pressures, noting that threat levels can change over time.
Study a community-based conservation programme and evaluate both biodiversity outcomes and the safeguards used for local livelihoods.
Compare the roles of national wildlife agencies, local communities, international conventions and UNEP rather than treating conservation as the job of one institution.
International Day of the Markhor Facts
International Day of the Markhor is observed every year on 24 May.
The General Assembly established the day through resolution A/RES/78/278 on 2 May 2024.
The first observance was held on 24 May 2024.
The resolution invites UNEP to facilitate the observance.
Markhor occur in mountainous regions of Central and South Asia.
International Day of the Markhor Messages
May International Day of the Markhor inspire curiosity about the living world and thoughtful action to protect it.
Celebrate International Day of the Markhor by learning from credible conservation sources and choosing one practical way to reduce harm or support protection.
Wishing everyone marking International Day of the Markhor a day of discovery, respect for nature and care that continues beyond today.
On International Day of the Markhor, may appreciation for the natural world lead to informed stewardship and practical care for the places and species around us.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
United Nations Digital Library — A/78/L.60 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations Digital Library — A/RES/78/278 (opens in a new tab)
United Nations in Pakistan — first International Day of the Markhor (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — International Day of the Markhor (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — List of International Days and Weeks (opens in a new tab)
United Nations — Observances: who chooses them and how (opens in a new tab)
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is International Day of the Markhor?
24 May The documented recurrence rule is: 24 May.
Does International Day of the Markhor fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is International Day of the Markhor an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: United Nations / international observance. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes International Day of the Markhor?
The reviewed sources identify United Nations General Assembly as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as Pakistan with Afghanistan, China, Hungary, Israel, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan as the nine original sponsors of A/78/L.60. Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Is International Day of the Markhor international or country-specific?
The documented scope is international or global: United Nations / international observance. That does not mean every country treats the date as a public holiday or observes it in the same way.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-09-05.
When was International Day of the Markhor created?
The UN General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/78/278 on 2 May 2024, proclaiming 24 May as the annual day.
Who facilitates International Day of the Markhor?
The establishing resolution invites the United Nations Environment Programme to facilitate the observance.
When was the first International Day of the Markhor?
United Nations sources identify 24 May 2024 as the first observance.
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