American hunter bags Kashmir Markhor in Chitral under regulated trophy hunt

CHITRAL: An American trophy hunter has successfully hunted a Kashmir Markhor in the Shasha-Thoshi Community Managed Game Reserve in Chitral under the supervision of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Wildlife Department.

In a press release, Divisional Forest Officer (Wildlife) Chitral Farooq Nabi said the hunt was carried out in the Thoshi Shasha Conservancy in strict compliance with national and international trophy hunting regulations.

According to the official, the hunter acquired a legal permit through an international bidding process by offering $270,000, equivalent to approximately Rs756 million. He said the amount reflected the global significance of the Kashmir Markhor and underscored the success of Pakistan’s conservation-based trophy hunting programme, which has transformed wildlife protection into a sustainable source of livelihood for local communities.

The American hunter, who chose to remain anonymous, hunted a Markhor with 52-inch horns from a distance of about 510 metres, demonstrating adherence to ethical hunting standards, Nabi added.

Wildlife Department officials remained present throughout the process to ensure transparency, strict compliance with the approved permit, and adherence to conservation protocols.

He further said that 80% of the trophy hunting revenue would be allocated directly to community welfare and development projects, including education, healthcare, infrastructure, and conservation-related livelihoods.

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The revenue-sharing model has played a key role in promoting community ownership, curbing illegal hunting, and protecting endangered species, the official said.

“The Kashmir Markhor is not merely a trophy; it is a symbol of conservation success,” Nabi said, adding that regulated trophy hunting ensures the survival of the species while improving socio-economic conditions for local communities.

The Kashmir Markhor, Pakistan’s national animal, is globally listed as a near-threatened species, while community-managed conservation initiatives in Chitral have been widely recognised for reversing population decline and strengthening wildlife protection.