Officials from Badakhshan Department of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock have raised concerns about the sharp decrease in numbers of Marco Polo sheep and say their status in the province is under threat.Marco Polo sheep are distinguishable by their large, spiral horns and live in the mountainous regions of Central Asia – including in the Wakhan National Park.Their conservation status is “near threatened” and efforts have been made in the region to protect their numbers and keep them from being hunted.Amanullah Hassan, the head of Badakhshan Agriculture Department, said a survey to count the Marco Polo and the Asiatic ibex was recently carried out by the National Park Authority, Environment Department and Wildlife Conservation Institute (WCI).According to Hassan, the team assessed 20 herds that included both Marco Polos and Ibex, living at an altitude higher than 4,000 meters above sea level, and found the number of Marco Polos had dropped significantly against data collected by WCI in 2021.Most Marco Polo sheep live in the Pamir Mountains region adjacent to the borders of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and China.Their elevation ranges from 3,700 to 4,800 m above sea level.Both Marco Polo and the Ibex are drawcards for the province as they attract dozens of tourists annually.The post Badakhshan officials concerned about sharp drop in Marco Polos in northern Afghanistan first appeared on Ariana News.