Hunting permit fees jacked up

Wildlife department scrambles to protect endangered species

RAWALPINDI:

In a bid to protect endangered species and encourage the breeding of wild animals and birds, the wildlife department has announced an increase in hunting permit fees for both local and international hunters.

These measures come alongside the implementation of stricter regulations and heightened penalties for poachers.

Under the new regulations, fines for unlawful hunting have been raised to a minimum of Rs0.1 million. According to official sources, the first phase of these efforts focuses on safeguarding the Nilgai, Indian hog deer, Chinkara, Urial, Sus scrofa, Perdicinae, and migratory birds from Siberia.

To manage hunting activities, the department will conduct a public auction to award hunting licenses. The permit fees for Pakistani hunters interested in hunting Nilgai have been set at Rs250,000, while foreign hunters will be required to pay $250,000.

Similarly, the hunting fees for Chinkara Deer are set at Rs0.1 million for local hunters and $1,000 for foreign hunters. Urial hunting fees are set at Rs0.5 million for local hunters and $7,000 for foreign hunters. Wild boar hunting fees are Rs10,000 for local hunters and $200 for foreign hunters. Perdicinae and aquatic bird hunting fees are set at Rs10,000.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, July 9^th, 2023.