Comment on FR Doc # 2011-13671

I support the downlisting of markhor at Torghar. I have been the principal foreign scientist on this project since 1997. I have taken the lead in guiding monitoring efforts. Scientific monitoring has been ongoing and the sucess of the sustainable use hunting program being the major factor in bringing the population back from the brink of extinction is well documented in peer reviewed publications (see one attached). Population monitoring conducted during May 2011 indicate the trend is continuing. The ratio of young to females was 30kids:100nannies. Similar to what we have observed in past years. 27 % of the observed population sample in May 2011 were males. I will be participating in a full repeat population survey during this coming November and will provide USFWS with the results. Thanks to the sustainable use hunting program the population is currently the largest straight horned markhor population in existance.