GILGIT: An American citizen hunted the highest-rated Astoremarkhor in Doyan Community Controlled Hunting Area (CCHA) in Astore district of Gilgit-Baltistan on Friday under the current trophy hunting programme.
According to GB wildlife officials, Brian Douglas Williams from the US successfully hunted an Astoremarkhor (Capra falconeri) in Doyan, with a trophy size of 40-inch horns.The hunter paid a $181,000 trophy hunting permit fee to the GB Wildlife Department (GBWD) for the hunt.
This was the fourth highest-rated Astoremarkhor hunt in the current trophy hunting programme.Earlier, on Feb 13, Colglazier John Michael from the US hunted an Astoremarkhor in SaiDamote CCHA in Gilgit after paying $171,000.
On January 27, American citizen Joseph Bradford Coors hunted the highest-rated Astoremarkhor in the SKB community control hunting area in Roundu area of Skardu after paying $186,000 to the GBWD.On December 2, 2023, Jan Jacob T. Dams from Belgium hunted an Astoremarkhor in the DMT hunting area of Astore after paying $177,000.
The trophy hunting programme starts in October and ends in April the following year.In October 2023, the GB Forest, Parks and Wildlife Department auctioned four licences for the hunting of the prized Astoremarkhor, one of which fetched a record $186,000. Permits to hunt over a hundred rare species were auctioned as part of the trophy hunting programme for 2023-24.
The licences included four for Astoremarkhors, 14 for blue sheep, and 88 for Himalayan ibex in various community conservation areas across GB.The highest permit for the Astoremarkhor was sold for $186,000, the second for $181,000, the third for $177,000, and the fourth for $171,000.
The base rate fees for blue sheep and Himalayan ibex permits were $9,000 and $5,500, respectively.According to Mohammad Ilyas Balghari, the GBWD spokesman, 80 per cent of the proceeds go to local communities, which utilise the funds for various development projects, including education and healthcare. The remaining 20pc is deposited in the government treasury.
Earlier, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Climate Change, Forestry, Environment and Wildlife Department on Monday auctioned four licences for hunting of Kashmir Markhor in Chitral and Kohistan districts with one of them fetching a record $212,000.
A statement issued here said the highest bid was offered by M/S Mehran Safari for $212,000 for single markhor to be hunted in Toshi-I area of Chitral. “This is the highest rate ever offered in the history of markhor trophy hunting,” the statement said.
The second highest bid was offered by M/S Zoon Safari for $185,000 for a single markhor to be hunted in Toshi-II, Chitral. This was also the second highest rate ever offered in the history of markhor trophy hunting.
The third highest bid was offered by M/S Shikar Safari for $135,900 for a single markhor to be hunted in Keigah area of Kohistan. The fourth highest bid was offered by M/S Hunting Safari for $125,000 for a single markhor to be hunted in Gehrait area of Chitral.
The statement said that 80 per cent of the proceeds from the trophy hunting programme were distributed among the locals for community development and wildlife conservation activities in the respective villages.
