Three foreign hunters hunt Markhors in KP under Trophy hunting scheme

PESHAWAR: Three foreign hunters, hailing from America, Canada and Mexico, have successfully hunted Kashmiri Markhors, a wild goad with long spiral horns, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under the Trophy Hunting scheme.

“All the three Markhors have been hunted in different wildlife conservancies in Chitral district of the province,” informed Iltaf Ali Shah, SDFO (Sub-divisional Forest Officer) Chitral district.

The first animal was hunted down by a Canadian hunter in Ghairat Golain Conservancy in December month of year 2017, Iltaf Ali Shah informed APP.

Talking to APP from Chitral district, Iltaf Ali Shah said the second and third Markhors were hunted in Toshi Shah Shah game reserves.

“The permit for sale of Ghairat Golain conservancy had been auctioned at US dollar 76,000. While the two permits for hunting of wild goat in Toshi Shah Shah game reserves were sold at dollar 85,000 and dollar 85,200,” said Safdar Ali Shah, Chief Conservator Wildlife department KP.

Safdar Ali Shah informed that KP Wildlife department was authorized to sell four permits for hunting of Markhor under the Trophy Hunting Scheme.

“The fourth permit is also sold to a foreign hunter for hunting in Kohistan district of KP,” he added. The fourth hunter has not hunted the animal and is expected to succeed in the current month of March, he continued.

The total amount collected through selling of four permits is around dollar 3,16200 out of which 80 percent would be distributed amount communities engage in protection and conservation of wild goat in their respective area, Safar informs.

It merits a mention here that Trophy Hunting scheme, involving foreign hunters in hunting of wild goat in remote hilly terrain of KP is proving to be a best conservation tool in saving the population of Markhor.

“Once critically endangered wild specie, Pakistan now has the largest population of Markhor in the reigon,” said Niaz Ahmad DFO Wildlife Extension Peshawar.

The success of Trophy hunting would be gauged from the fact that the decade long wave of militancy in KP failed to hamper successful conservation efforts and foreign hunter continued to visit the province for hunting.

“The spiraled horned goat that occurs in small, scattered populations mainly in the mountains of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces was in critical stage in 1984 as the country had only 200 animals.

However, now according to a survey conducted by Wildlife department in 2014, the number of animal reached to 3566 only in Chitral district, Niaz informed APP. The survey reflected remarkable comeback of the majestic wild goat in Pakistan due to successful conservation efforts.

“Markhor which is also Pakistan’s national animal is known for its spectacular, corks crew horns that can reach nearly five feet in length,” added Niaz Muhammad.

The highest bid so far achieved for hunting of a Markhor is dollar 100,500. Whereas the total amount of revenue generated through the programme is 3.306 million dollar out of which communities involved in conservation of animal got a share of dollar 2.645 million dollar. Twenty percent of the revenue generated goes into national kitty.