A US individual pays a record $232,000 for permission to hunt Markhor in Chitral
On Sunday, a US citizen successfully engaged in trophy hunting of a magnificent Markhor at the Tooshi Shasha Conservancy in the Lower Chitral district, as reported by sources to Geo News.
Deron James Millman, a US national, secured a trophy hunting permit from the Wildlife Department, placing the highest bid in history at a staggering $232,000. The permit for hunting the Markhor, a wild goat native to high-altitude monsoon forests in central Asia, was obtained through a bidding process in October, according to sources.
The wildlife department disclosed that the horn size of the mountain monarch hunted by Millman measured 45 inches. In October of the previous year, the wildlife department in the northernmost territory of the country auctioned hunting permits for Astor Markhors at record prices under the trophy scheme.
Hunting permits are regularly issued for various areas, including Gilgit-Baltistan, Tooshi Conservancy in Chitral District, Gehrait Conservancy in Chitral District, and Kaigah Conservancy in Kohistan District.
The concept of trophy hunting has demonstrated positive outcomes for biodiversity conservation, contributing to the increase in the Markhor population. Under the trophy hunting program, local communities receive 80% of the license fee, with the government retaining the remaining portion. The amount varies as licenses are issued through a competitive bidding process.
Furthermore, the trophy hunting program targets only old and male Markhors, identifiable by their horns, gait, and body structure. This initiative has been hailed as a significant success in biodiversity preservation in Pakistan.
The incentives generated through trophy hunting have instilled new ethical standards among local communities, prompting them to view their wild game species as valuable economic assets. It's worth noting that the Markhor, the national animal of Pakistan, is protected by both local and international laws, including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
