PESHAWAR, Nov 16: The NWFP Wildlife Department has auctioned four permits for hunting markhor, a wild goat with long horns found in mountains, under the Trophy Hunting Programme at the rate of $52,500 per animal. All the permits have been obtained by foreign hunters, Chief conservator wildlife Dr Mumtaz Malik said.

Last year the permits of Markhor hunting were sold at the rate of $33000 per animal. This year the department succeeded in selling it at a higher rate, he added.

Dr Mumtaz said the hunters given permits would arrive in Pakistan in a couple of months and start hunting in March 2006.

The trophy hunting programme, he said, had been launched in the country with the permission of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Flora and Fauna) for protection of endangered animals through involvement of communities. Under the programme, he continued, “communities are involved in conservation of wildlife” and the revenue generated from sale of hunting permits of protected animals “are mostly spent on development of communities”.

About the sale of hunting permit of ibex, he said that the department “is reducing its rate for attracting hunters”.

He said that “hunters show interest in hunting of markhor in the NWFP”. The ibex hunters prefer hunting in Northern Areas.

The trophy hunting, he said, will be permissible only in community game reserves in district Chitral and Kohistan.

Special security would be provided to foreign hunters on additional charges.

Dr Malik said trophy hunting “is a very attractive incentive” for involvement of communities in conservation of wildlife.

Once markhor was endangered specie in Pakistan “but now the country has the largest population of this rare animal”, he added.

The involvement of communities in trophy hunting is increasing and has had a very positive impact on the life of area people.

He cautioned that hunting of markhor and ibex “is a highly challenging sport which requires complete fitness and patience”. The hunters should be prepared for rugged, difficult slopes, extremely cold weather and irregular flights for Chitral, he added. —APP