CHITRAL: A Russian foreign national hunted a Kashmiri Markhor in the Gahirat-Golen conservancy area of Chitral under Pakistan’s regulated trophy hunting framework, according to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Wildlife Department. Officials confirmed that the hunter, a Russian national, obtained an official hunting licence after paying a fee of $68,000. In Pakistani currency, it amounts to Rs 20 million (Rs 2 Crore) and this does not include the cost of guides and supporting team, etc.
The department said the Markhor was hunted as part of the Community-Based Trophy Hunting Programme, which allows a limited number of carefully monitored hunts each year. Authorities reported that the horns of the hunted animal measured 41 inches, indicating a mature specimen. Wildlife officials stated that all procedures were followed in line with national regulations and international conservation commitments.
Moreover, the department reiterated that trophy hunting in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa operates under strict quotas approved at the international level. In October 2024, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora approved a non-exportable quota of six markhors for Kohistan and Chitral. Following that decision, the provincial wildlife department permitted the hunting of six animals for the current season.
Community benefits and revenue distribution
Officials said the programme generated $246,700 in revenue from the approved hunts, with 80 per cent of the proceeds distributed directly among local communities. The remaining 20 per cent was deposited in the national exchequer. According to the department, this revenue-sharing mechanism plays a key role in encouraging community participation in wildlife conservation.
Authorities maintained that a significant portion of the funds would be used for welfare projects and development initiatives in remote mountainous areas. These include infrastructure improvements, education support, and conservation-related employment opportunities. As a result, local residents gain a direct financial incentive to protect wildlife habitats and prevent illegal hunting.
Under the existing policy, the government issues three trophy hunting licences for markhor annually in designated regions. Officials stressed that this controlled approach has contributed to stabilising and, in some areas, increasing markhor populations over the years.
Markhor, a large wild goat species native to Central Asia, the Karakoram, and the Himalayan region, is highly prized for its spiral horns and symbolic value. The animal typically inhabits high-altitude monsoon forests and rugged mountain terrain, making it both rare and challenging to hunt.
Past hunts and conservation context
Last year, a US citizen hunted a Kashmiri Markhor at the same venue during the third trophy hunt of the season. The hunter, identified as Robert Myles Hall, secured a trophy permit valued at $125,000. Wildlife officials said the animal was around eight years old and had horns measuring approximately 38 inches.
Provincial authorities argue that such regulated hunts, when combined with community-based conservation, help balance ecological protection with economic development. However, the programme continues to attract debate, with conservationists closely monitoring its long-term impact on endangered species.
