Hunted Markhor succumbs to bullet wounds in Chitral veterinary hospital

Accused person presented before Chitral court

CHITRAL: A Markhor, which had been shot by a local hunter in Chitral, has succumbed to its injuries at a local veterinary hospital on Monday.

On December 30, the 10-year-old Himalayan Ibex was illegally hounded by the hunter, who escaped after firing at the animal.

A video of locals rescuing the endangered animal in Orair Shaghor area had gone viral on social media.

Chitral Gol Wildlife department staffers brought the Markhor back to the town. However, it breathed its last on the way to a wildlife hospital.



The postmortem report revealed that the animal sustained a bullet wound.

As per the orders of Chitral’s Deputy Commissioner Khursheed Alam Mehsud, the suspect, who has been identified as Aawi Shaghor resident Aslam Baig, was taken into custody during a raid by the authorities concerned.

The suspect was later produced before a court of Chitral Assistant Commissioner Alamgir Khan, after which he was sent to jail.

Every year, Himalayan and Kashmiri Markhor is hunted for sport with the funds raised by the licenses issued to hunters. This helps address the financial issues being faced by the locals.