PESHAWAR: The Wildlife department has sold permits for hunting of four Kashmiri Markhors (wild goat with spiral long horns) under the Trophy Hunting Scheme. "We have sold permits for the current hunting season, starting from December to March, to an outfitter, Shikar Safari Club," informed Chief Conservator Wildlife Department Saeeduz Zaman while talking to this news agency on Tuesday.

He revealed that four permits have been sold at a total value of $2,86,000. Giving further details, Saeed said, two permits were sold for hunting Markhor in Tooshi Shasha game reserved in Chitral for $80,500 each.

Similarly, one permit was sold for $70000 in Gahirat game reserved in Chitral while the fourth one was sold for Kohistan district (Kaigah Game Reserve) for $55,000. The chief conservator said sale of these permits were made through auction. The department sought bids from hunters-outfitter for hunting of 10 Himalayan ibexes and four Kashmiri Markhors.

"Advertisements were floated in the press and also put on websites of international organisations dealing with wildlife for attracting maximum number of hunters, he added. After completion of bidding process, permits were given to the highest bidder, Shikar Safari club.

He informed that in the current year no bid was received for hunting of ibex and therefore the department decided to allow Markhor hunters to start hunting. He said, "The highest bidder can resell the permit on foreign hunter who will pay more for hunting of the animal in the hills of Chitral and Kohistan districts.

About the Trophy Hunting Scheme, Saeed said, communities are involved in conservation of wildlife and the revenue generated from sale of hunting permits of protected animals were mostly spent on development of respective communities. He also informed that in the province hunters show interest in hunting of Markhor while the ibex hunters prefer hunting in Northern Areas.

Saeed said trophy hunting is a very attractive incentive for involvement of communities in conservation of wildlife. Once the Markhor was endangered specie in Pakistan, but now the country has largest population of this rare animal. – AP

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Courtesy: AP and Chitral News