GILGIT: Another American citizen hunted the highest rated Astore Markhor in Jutial conservancy near Gilgit on Sunday.

According to officials of GB wildlife department, the American citizen, Dianda Christopher Anthony, had paid 105,000 US dollars to the department for obtaining hunting licence of the rare species.

The horn size of the animal was 48 inches and the hunter fired at it from a distance of 360 meters.

Last Sunday, another American citizen, John Amistoso, had hunted the Astore Markhor in the community-controlled Bunji area of Gilgit.

The permit for Astore Markhor had been obtained for 100,000 US dollars.

The wildlife department had auctioned hunting permits for over 100 rare species under trophy hunting programme of 2018-19.

The licences for trophy hunting included four Astore Markhors, 14 blue sheep and 95 ibex.

So far 55 ibex, 12 blue sheep and two Astore Markhors have been hunted across the region in the current season. Hunters from Denmark, Turkey, America and Spain hunted various species.

Top officials, judges and their guests also hunted rare species in various areas after getting permits.

On Thursday last, Senator Talha Mahmood claimed to set a record by hunting an ibex with a 54-inch horns in Hunza district.

However, the hunting of rare and endangered species in GB is being discouraged by environmentalists and social activists.

Activists protested on social media for killing of wildlife animals by lawmakers and influential persons and termed the move against conservation of ecological system in GB.

They demanded review of the trophy hunting programme for conservation and protection of wildlife in GB.

The trophy hunting quota is specified on the basis of annual surveys conducted by the wildlife experts. Hunting of only overage and oversize animals is allowed. Eighty per cent of the amount received from the trophy hunting programme goes to local communities to be spent on education, health and other development projects.

This was the second successful hunt of the four markhor permits issued by the GB government for the current hunting season and 5th trophy hunt in Jutial conservancy since the start of the community-based markhor conservation programme 15 years ago.

Published in Dawn, January 22nd, 2019