ISLAMABAD March 03, 2025: On World Wildlife Day 2025, a debate among the conservationists and the stakeholders of the wildlife is still on, that the Trophy Hunting bodes well for the conservation of the wildlife or it is harmful.
It is contrary to general belief that the animal dies from this trophy hunting, when people posts the hunted animal posts and ask for mercy.
A fascinating view emerges as the Markhor trophy hunting conditions have led to enhance its growth over time.
Trophy season lasts from October-November to March-April every year. This duration also merits surprise visits of the authorities to ensure the terms and their real impact.
Supportive Terms
One view of Ijaz Ahmad, a renowned conservationist was, “I feel trophy hunting is a successful initiative where communities are engaged in conservation and share the benefits”.
He kept on explaining that in areas where trophy hunting is going on the sightings of animals from the road-sides are common.
Trophy hunting is allowed only in limited numbers. For example, only 12 Markhors are allowed to hunt from the entire country (4 each from GB, KP and Balochistan) every year.
Juvenile Hunting
If hunting of juveniles is going on when trophy-sized animals are not available then there is an issue in the department and not the initiative.
Allocation of number of licenses is based on joint surveys by the department, local CBOs and conservation NGOs. Either there is some misreporting or fake surveys are done.
Read More: Spanish Citizen Pay $ 42500 for Trophy Hunting
Absolutely and the numbers are decided once cleared by the World Organisation.
The quota of 12 Markhors is issued by the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna).
Trophy Price
The price set for Markhor hunting is Rs 75 million, Pakistan’s national animal. This marked the highest ever bid recorded in the nations’s history.
Farooq Nabi, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Wildlife, divulged that the hunter got the permit for the first Markhor of the season by providing more than seven million rupees.
US Hunter Paid How Much?
In Astore district of Gilgit-Baltistan, an American hunted the highest-rated Astore markhor in Doyan Community Controlled Hunting Area (CCHA) in March 2024 under the last year trophy hunting program.
Also Read: Pakistan Requests UN for Help Saving Markhor
US Hunter, Brian Douglas Williams with huge determination hunted an Astore markhor (Capra falconeri) in Doyan, with a trophy-sized of 40-inch horns, according to GB wildlife officials.
Division of the Amount
Douglas paid a $181,000 trophy hunting permit fee to the GB Wildlife Department (GBWD) for his 40-inch horn hunt. Various different rates had been seen in the same vicinity auctioned last year, like $ 171000, $ 177,000 and others.
According to Mohammad Ilyas Balghari, the GBWD spokesman, 80% of the proceeds of the trophy auction goes to the local communities.
These allocations utilise the funds for various local development projects like education and healthcare. The remainder 20% is surrendered in the government treasury.
