CHITRAL: An American has hunted down a Kashmir Markhor with 40-inch horns in Toshi Shasha conservancy with a bow.

Shahzada Sikandarul Mulk, president of Al-Burhan Conservation Society, told Dawn here on Saturday that Joseph Bradford had paid Rs13.12 million for the trophy hunting. He said it was the first trophy hunting performed with a bow, adding the hunter had to spend six days to accomplish the task.

He said Mr Bradford had to launch his bow from a closer range while constantly being on the prowl as the markhors instinctively sensed the arrival of a hunter from afar.

Mr Mulk said the hunter successfully targeted the markhor at the second attempt from a high point covered by trees on three sides on the last day of his expedition. He said Mr Bradford created a world record of hunting a markhor with the help of bow.

He said the local community received 80 per cent of the income accrued from the permit fee as its share which was spent on their collective development and self-employment of jobless youth through the village conservation committees.

Published in Dawn, December 20th, 2020