PESHAWAR – The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has set a record by earning Rs250 million from the sale of four permits for markhor hunting.
The Wildlife Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa said the largest bids for markhor trophy hunting were placed for Toshi 1 and Toshi 2, with an expected income of over Rs150 million from hunting two markhors in both areas.
In the Kohistan area of Kiga, the earning from hunting of one markhor would be Rs53.7 million, while hunting one markhor in Gahrit, Chitral, is projected to generate Rs52.8 million.
Wildlife officials stated that 80% of the income from the trophy hunting program is distributed among the local residents of the respective areas, with additional funds allocated for community development and wildlife conservation activities.
Under the trophy hunting programme, only old and male markhors are shot. Such animals can be identified from their horns, gait and body structure. This programme is now cited as a huge success in biodiversity preservation in Pakistan.
The incentives created through the trophy hunting programme have introduced new ethical standards among the concerned communities that now protect their wild game species as an economic asset.
