CHITRAL: A local resident hunted a nine-and-a-half-year-old Himalayan Ibex in Beshqer Gol pasture of Laspur valley in Upper Chitral here on Monday, which is said to be the first-ever licensed hunt permitted by the wildlife department.

Divisional forest officer of wildlife division, Chitral, Rizwanullah Yousufzai told Dawn that the horn of the animal measured 42 inches. He said that Sheikh Zeeshan Nasir successfully shot at the ibex from a long distance of 450 feet.

He said that the resident had obtained the permit of the trophy hunting from the department after paying Rs186,000. He said 80 per cent of this revenue would go to the local community for their collective development.

Mr Yousufzai said that the introduction of trophy hunting of ibex in different areas of Chitral was aimed at ensuring the conservation efforts of the species.

The DFO said that Bashqar Gol was one of the famous resorts known for the rich population of Himalayan Ibex, and that the initiation of trophy hunting of the animal had been the longstanding demand of the local people.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2025