US hunter bags Kashmir markhor in Chitral under regulated trophy programme

A US citizen has hunted a Kashmir markhor in Chitral’s Shasha-Thoshi Community Managed Game Reserve under the supervision of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Wildlife Department, according to Geo.tv.

Officials said the hunt was conducted within the Thoshi Shasha Conservancy and followed both national and international trophy-hunting rules. A wildlife department statement quoted Divisional Forest Officer (Wildlife) Chitral Farooq Nabi as saying the hunter secured the permit through an international bidding process after offering $270,000 (around Rs756 million).

The department said the hunt was monitored to ensure transparency and compliance with the approved permit and conservation protocols. The hunter—who was not publicly identified—reportedly took the animal from a distance of about 510 metres, and officials described the process as consistent with ethical hunting standards.

Authorities said 80% of the revenue from the trophy-hunting fee is set to go directly toward community welfare and development projects such as education, healthcare, infrastructure and conservation-linked livelihoods.

The report described the model as a tool for building local ownership of conservation outcomes, reducing illegal hunting and supporting protection efforts for the near-threatened Kashmir markhor, Pakistan’s national animal.