CHITRAL: Despite a ban on its hunting, another female markhor was found dead in Chitral Goal National Park (CGNP) here on Wednesday.

Divisional forest officer of CGNP Mohammad Buzurg confirmed the recovery of dead markhor from the national park.

Talking to media, DFO said that earlier a male markhor was found dead in CGNP. He said that the female markhor was trapped in a tree as a result she died after hanging from it.

However, an environmentalist on condition of anonymity said as markhor was very sharp and intelligent animal it couldn’t be trapped in tree while grazing as the animal usually lived on the peaks of high mountains. He said that it was strange that carcasses of two markhors were found in a protected area like CGNP.

The environmentalist said that a few years back a markhor was hunted illegally by an unknown government official, prompting the Peshawar High Court to take suo motu action.

Meanwhile, social and political circles of Chitral have demanded inquiry in this connection to ascertain the cause of death of markhor.

Community leader Hussain Ahmad also confirmed the death of makrhor at CGNP, which is a question mark on the department concerned which has deployed a large number of watchers and other staff in the park.

Published in Dawn February 12th , 2015

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