CHITRAL: Unknown poachers hunted a Kashmir markhor in Thuna Thoni area of Gahiret-Golen conservancy here on Tuesday night and fled, leaving carcass of the animal behind after the wildlife department officials chased them.

Sub-divisional wildlife officer Irshad Ahmed told Dawn here on Wednesday that after hearing fire shots the watchers of the department on Tuesday evening informed him on which he rushed to the spot. He said that the local community members were also called to the area, but the hunters had escaped by then.

He said that the poached markhor was three years old and had received a single bullet in its head, while its flesh would be put on auction with the approval of the high-ups.

Mr Ahmed said that the local police had registered a case against the unknown poachers. He said that currently markhor population in the conservancy stood at 500 heads.

Published in Dawn, February 4th, 2016