Whopping $271,000 paid for markhor hunt

American hunter Ronald Whitehead bids the highest amount of $271,000 to hunt a Kashmir markhor in Chitral.

CHITRAL:

After paying a whopping sum of $271,000 a US citizen has hunted a markhor in a remote area of Chitral.

According to the Ministry of Climate Change, Forests, and Environment Spokesperson Latifur Rehman, this is the first hunt of the current season.

American hunter Ronald Whitehead bid the highest amount of $271,000 to hunt a Kashmir markhor in Chitral.

Whitehead obtained the permit for this hunt in October and hunted an 11-year-old markhor with 49-inch long horns in the Toshi Shasha Conservancy.

According to the spokesperson, another trophy hunt will be conducted in the same conservancy at the same price, while the third trophy hunt is expected to take place next March, with an estimated tag of $231,000.

The trophy hunting programme, introduced in the 1990s, generates massive income. As much as 80% of it is distributed equally within the local community.

This revenue helps conserve the markhor species, and protection efforts against illegal hunting by locals. In addition, the funds go towards regional development.

The initiative has attracted international hunters to northern Pakistan, and local communities work hard to prevent illegal hunting.

Trophy hunting plays a significant role in empowering these local communities.

Foreign hunters, bidding for the opportunity to hunt Markhor, are strictly required to adhere to the regulations, and only older markhors are hunted.

During the hunt, representatives from the Wildlife Department, as well as members of the local community, accompany the hunters. The markhor, Pakistan's national animal, typically resides at altitudes between 8,000 to 11,000 feet, but comes lower during winter.