GILGIT (Kashmir English): A permit for Markhor hunting in Gilgit-Baltistan was auctioned for $370,000, or about Rs 105 million in Pakistani rupees, the highest ever bid for any hunting permit in the world.
The permit was awarded on Wednesday at the annual trophy hunting auction organized by the Gilgit-Baltistan Wildlife and Parks Department.
During the auction, hunting permits for 118 animals were offered, including 4 Astor Markhor, 100 Himalayan Ibex, a large breed of wild goat found in the Himalayan mountains, and 14 Blue Sheep.
Blue Sheep are also a type of wild sheep living in mountainous areas, which are mostly found in the high mountains of the Himalayas and Karakoram.
Other Markhor permits were also sold for hefty prices, including bids of $286,000 (approximately Rs. 81.2 million), $270,000 (approximately Rs. 76.6 million), and $240,000 (approximately Rs. 68.1 million).
The most expensive blue sheep permit was sold for $40,000 (approximately Rs. 11.353 million) and ibex for $13,000 (approximately Rs. 3.7 million).
According to the Wildlife Department, this is the most expensive Markhor hunting permit in Pakistan’s history and worldwide.
This trophy hunting program was launched in 1990, under which 80 percent of the permit revenue is given directly to local communities, while 20 percent goes to the government.
These financial benefits are what keep the Markhor species alive and well, and they have been saved from extinction.
The number of Markhors in Pakistan has now surpassed 5,000, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listed it as ‘Least Concern’ in 2015, down from ‘Critically Endangered’.
The Markhor hunting is considered one of the world’s most elusive game. Its long, curved horns are a major attraction for hunters.
The hunting season in Pakistan runs from November to April, and most hunters come from the US, Europe and the Middle East.
According to a local representative, ‘A single Markhor permit brings our village more income than many years of farming. That is why we now consider the protection of the Markhor as our responsibility, and it is our pride and our source of livelihood.
