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An American hunter has paid a colossal amount of Rs 75 million to hunt a Markhor, Pakistan’s national animal, in Chitral.
According to reports, the US national has placed the highest bid ever recorded in the country’s history. Farooq Nabi, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Wildlife, stated that the hunter acquired the permit for the first Markhor of the season by offering over Rs 7 million.
Farooq explained that the US hunter successfully hunted a Markhor with horns measuring over 49 inches, showcasing the trophy’s exceptional size. Wildlife officials claimed that during the auction held in October 2024, two permits were sold for a record $271,000.
In July 2024, Pakistan urged the international community to support its collaborative efforts for the conservation of the Markhor, emphasizing its crucial role in the overall ecosystem.
While the global population of Markhors is declining, with fewer than 6,000 mature individuals remaining, their numbers in Pakistan have been increasing over the past decade, reaching between 3,500 and 5,000, thanks to proactive conservation programs and community engagement.
