'Wildlife dept auctions hunting permits for Markhor, Ibex

Peshawar—The Wildlife department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has sold permits for hunting of four Markhors and one Ibex in Chitral and Kohistan districts under the Trophy Hunting scheme.

The hunting season for current year will start from Dec 15 to March 2012, next, informed Chief Conservator Wildlife Department, Syed Mubarik Ali Shah.

Talking to APP, Mubarik Shah said sale of hunting permits were made through proper auction and bidders were asked through advertisement in press and internet to submit their offers.

The permits have been purchased by outfitters who will later invite foreign hunters for hunting.

The highest bid received was $ 95000 for Toshi Game Reserve in Chitral district while the second one is $ 90,000 for Shasha Game Reserve in the same district.

The figure of dollar 95000 is the highest amount on which the hunting permits is sold by wildlife department, adds Chief Conservator.

He said third permits of Markhor hunting is sold for Ghairat Game reserve at a price of dollar 70,500. While permits for Kohistan game reserve is sold at dollar 58,000. The ibex hunting permit is sold at dollar 3550.

Mubarik Shah said trophy hunting will be permissible only in community game reserves in District Chitral and Kohistan.

In the trophy hunting scheme, communities are involved in conservation of wildlife and the revenue generated from sale of hunting permits of protected animals were mostly spent on development of respective communities.—APP  ( CN monitoring 26 Nov 2011.)

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