Norwegian pays $81,200 to hunt Kashmiri Markhor.
CHITRAL: Norwegian hunter Oyvind Christensen shocked the locals of a rural Pakistan town when he paid $81,200 to hunt the rare Kashmiri Markhor in the Toshi area of Chitral. The large Markhor’s horns measured 47 inches long and more than one and half meters tall, with 100 KG of total weight.
Chitral is famous for Kashmiri Markhor and every year millions of rupees come in related to hunting permits. Talking to your correspondent Mr. Christensen said that, "Chitral is very peaceful place and the people of Chitral also very civilized and cooperative."
Divisional Forest Officer Wild Life Imtiaz Hussain said that Chitral has more than 2,000 Markhor and other wild life like Ibex, snow leopards and rare birds. He said that after a bidding round the successful bidder is awarded a hunting permit. He said Chitral issues 3 to 4 hunting permits and earns million of rupees this way.
Of the proceeds, 20% of the total amount goes to the wild life department, 40% is granted to local community and 40% to the conservation committee. Shahzada Gul, Secretary-General of the Al-Burkhan village conservation committee, said that Chitral has 3,000 Markhor but issues only 3 permits. He is demanding that authorities increase the number of permits from 3 to 6 permits per year to compensate the local community and volunteers of village conservation committee.