An American hunter has legally hunted a rare Kashmiri Markhor in the Chitral region under the close supervision of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Wildlife Department officials.
The hunter paid a record fee of $270,000, which is around Rs. 7.56 crore, for a government-approved trophy hunting permit.
The Kashmiri Markhor, Pakistan’s national animal, is known for its long and beautiful spiral horns. In this case, the animal had horns measuring about 52 inches.
Officials said the Markhor was shot from a distance of around 510 metres, following all safety and ethical hunting guidelines. The identity of the hunter has not been disclosed for privacy reasons.
Authorities stressed that the hunt was carried out strictly under Pakistan’s trophy hunting rules, which are designed to support conservation rather than harm wildlife populations.
Only a limited number of old or non-breeding animals are allowed to be hunted each year to ensure the species remains protected.
According to officials, 80 percent of the money earned from the permit will be given directly to local communities living in the area.
This funding will be used for welfare projects such as education, healthcare, and basic infrastructure. The remaining 20 percent will go toward wildlife conservation efforts, including habitat protection and monitoring of animal populations.
The event has once again brought international attention to Pakistan’s conservation-based trophy hunting program.
Supporters say the program helps protect endangered species by giving local communities a financial reason to conserve wildlife rather than exploit it illegally.
Officials believe that such regulated hunting programs can play an important role in conservation while also supporting sustainable development in remote regions like Chitral.
