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 strictly in line with national and international trophy hunting regulations.
According to the official, the hunter obtained the 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 highlighted the success of Pakistan’s conservation-based trophy hunting programme, which has turned wildlife protection into a sustainable livelihood source for local communities.
The American hunter, who chose to remain anonymous, hunted a Markhor with 52-inch horns from a distance of around 510 metres, demonstrating adherence to ethical hunting standards, Nabi added.
Wildlife Department officials remained present throughout the process to ensure transparency, compliance with the approved permit, and adherence to conservation protocols, the press release stated.
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.
The revenue-sharing model, he noted, had played a key role in promoting community ownership, curbing illegal hunting, and protecting endangered species.
“The Kashmir Markhor is not merely a trophy; it is a symbol of conservation success,” Nabi said, adding that regulated trophy hunting ensured the survival of the species while improving socio-economic conditions for local communities.
The Kashmir Markhor, Pakistan’s national animal, is listed globally as a near-threatened species, while community-managed conservation initiatives in Chitral have been recognised for reversing population decline and strengthening wildlife protection.
