The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Wildlife Department has auctioned an exportable Markhor Hunting permit in Upper Kohistan for over $200,000 (Rs5.6 crore), one of the highest bids recorded under the province’s trophy hunting program.
According to officials, 80 percent of the revenue from the permit will go to the Kaigah Conservation Community, which is responsible for wildlife protection and habitat conservation in the area. The remaining funds will support government conservation initiatives.
Divisional Wildlife Officer Noor Mohammad said that Upper Kohistan is home to both Kashmiri and Astor species of markhor. He shared that a cheque worth Rs46 million was recently given to the local community for three hunts completed last season.
He explained that two of those hunts, conducted between December 2024 and March 2025, were exportable, allowing international hunters to take their trophies, including horns, to their home countries. The Kaigah Conservation Area, located near Dasu, currently has more than 600 markhors.
The department also sold a non-exportable Markhor Hunting permit for the upcoming season (December–March) for $75,000. Noor Mohammad said that recent surveys estimate the total markhor population in Upper Kohistan at over 1,200, showing strong growth thanks to community-led conservation.
Trophy hunting in the region began in 2005, with the majority of proceeds always directed to local communities. The funds are used for education, healthcare, and environmental protection, creating incentives for villagers to protect endangered wildlife.
Former Wildlife Officer Kath Baz Khan, who supervised the last hunting season, said Kaigah markhors are known for their large horns. He cited a record 53-inch trophy from Kohistan and another 44-inch markhor hunted by a foreign participant in March 2025.
In other related news also read Three Hunters Apprehended for Illegal Poaching of Rare Markhor
The Markhor Hunting program in Pakistan is widely regarded as a model for sustainable conservation, balancing wildlife protection with economic benefit for local residents.
