An American hunter, James Walker Crawford, recently hunted a rare 10-year-old Kashmir Markhor in the buffer zone of Chitral Gol National Park, Pakistan. This hunt took place under the country’s newly introduced non-exportable trophy hunting program.
A Pricey Trophy Hunt
Crawford obtained a special permit from the Wildlife Department, paying a significant amount of $52,000 (Rs. 14.53 million) for the hunt. The markhor, known for its impressive horns, had a horn size of 41 inches. Interestingly, Crawford had previously attempted to hunt a markhor but had missed his shot.
Community and Conservation Involvement
The hunt was carried out with the assistance of the village conservation committee of Rumbur and officials from Chitral Gol National Park. Divisional Forest Officer Rizwanullah supervised the process to ensure it adhered to conservation guidelines.
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According to Saleemuddin, the chairman of the Chitral Gol Community Development and Conservation Association, this hunting event marked a major milestone in wildlife conservation. He emphasized that local community efforts had significantly increased the markhor population, making such trophy hunts sustainable.
Calls for Exportable Trophy Hunting
Saleemuddin also urged the government to consider introducing an exportable trophy hunting program in the buffer zone for the next season. He stated that the rising number of eligible markhors could support this initiative, further benefiting conservation and local communities.
How Trophy Hunting Supports Conservation
While trophy hunting is controversial, Pakistan’s program ensures that a portion of the hunting permit fees is reinvested into conservation projects and community development. This approach helps in protecting wildlife while also providing financial benefits to the local population.
The trophy hunting program in Pakistan aims to balance wildlife conservation with economic opportunities for local communities, ensuring the long-term survival of rare species like the Kashmir Markhor.
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