CHITRAL – A Russian national successfully hunted a Kashmiri Markhor in the Gahirat-Golen conservancy of Chitral under the Community-Based Trophy Hunting Programme, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Wildlife Department confirmed on Wednesday.
The hunter obtained a license for $68,000, and the Markhor’s horns measured an impressive 41 inches. Authorities said the program allows regulated hunting of this endangered species while benefiting local communities.
Community Benefits and Conservation
The Community-Based Trophy Hunting Programme permits the hunting of limited Markhors, with 80% of the proceeds directed to the local population and 20% contributed to the national exchequer. The department stated that revenue supports welfare and development initiatives in the region.
Following the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) approval in October 2024, six Markhor hunts were allowed in Kohistan and Chitral, generating $246,700 for local communities.
Markhor: An Iconic Species
Markhor, a wild goat native to the high-altitude forests of Central Asia, the Karakoram, and the Himalayas, is prized for its majestic twisted horns. Each year, three trophy hunting licenses are issued, balancing conservation with community incentives.
Last year, a US hunter paid $125,000 for a similar hunt in Chitral. That Markhor, aged about eight years, had horns measuring 38 inches.
Authorities emphasize that the controlled hunting program helps conserve the species while providing sustainable economic benefits to local residents.
