Explore Pakistan's wildlife with 9th Class English Chapter 10 notes. Learn about the snow leopard and markhor, their habitat and conservation.
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The Snow Leopard is an elusive predator found in the high mountains (Himalayas, Karakoram). Known as the 'Ghost of the Mountains', it has thick spotted fur for camouflage and insulation. Its wide paws act like snowshoes, and its long tail helps in variation. It is a top predator, controlling herbivore populations.
The Markhor is Pakistan's national animal, famous for its spiral corkscrew horns. The name means 'Snake-Eater' in Persian (referencing its twisted horns). It lives on steep cliffs, using broad hooves for grip. It is a herbivore, preventing overgrazing of mountain vegetation.
The relationship between the Snow Leopard and Markhor is crucial for a healthy ecosystem. Leopards keep Markhor numbers in check. If Leopards disappear, Markhors would overpopulate and destroy vegetation (overgrazing). If Markhors disappear, Leopards would starve.
Both species face threats from poaching (illegal hunting), habitat loss, and climate change. Markhors are hunted for horns; Leopards are killed by herders protecting livestock. Organizations like WWF and Snow Leopard Foundation use Trophy Hunting programs to fund conservation and reward locals for protecting wildlife.
A hyphen (-) joins words to form a single idea.
1. Hyphenated Nouns: mother-in-law, well-being.
2. Hyphenated Adjectives: Compound adjectives before a noun (e.g., well-known author, high-speed train).
The string -ough has many pronunciations:
- Though (like 'go')
- Through (like 'too')
- Rough/Tough (like 'uff')
- Thought (like 'saw')
- Bough (like 'cow')