ISLAMABAD: An American hunter has made history by hunting the first markhor of the season in Chitral, Pakistan, with the highest bid ever recorded in the country’s hunting history.
According to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Wildlife Department, Ronald Joe Whitton, an American citizen, paid a staggering $271,000 to secure the permit for hunting a markhor. On Sunday, under the supervision of wildlife officials, Whitton hunted an 11-year-old markhor in the Thoshi Shasha Conservancy. The markhor’s horns measured an impressive 49.5 inches.
This year, the wildlife department sold four permits for the Thoshi One and Thoshi Two conservancies, each fetching a record $271,000.
The Markhor: Pakistan’s National Treasure
The markhor, a large wild goat native to South Asia and Central Asia, holds a revered status in Pakistan, where it is also known as the screw-horn goat. Listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List since 2015, its population was once on the brink of extinction due to overhunting for its meat and horns.
The name markhor, meaning “snake-eater,” originates from Pashto and Persian, inspired by ancient beliefs linking its spiral horns to snakes.
Globally, May 24 is now celebrated as the International Day of the Markhor, following a United Nations declaration earlier this year.
Hunting: Conservation or Controversy?
While hunting may seem counterintuitive to conservation, Pakistan’s sustainable trophy hunting programs have played a pivotal role in increasing markhor populations. Revenue generated from hunting permits is reinvested in local communities and wildlife conservation.
According to Saeed Abbas, a conservation official with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Pakistan’s markhor population has been increasing at an annual rate of 2% since 2014. This marks the 10th consecutive year of population growth, a rare achievement in global conservation.
“Markhor numbers have more than doubled in the past two decades, with mature populations surpassing 2,500 in 2014,” Abbas shared.
Challenges and Achievements
Despite local successes, the markhor faces challenges globally due to inadequate conservation programs. Its current population in Pakistan is estimated at 3,500 to 5,000, mainly distributed across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan, and parts of Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
The species is further categorized into Astor, Kashmiri, Suleiman, and Chiltan markhors. Of these, Astor and Kashmiri markhors are globally recognized for their distinctive flare-shaped horns.
A Model for Conservation?
With an annual population rise of 1.5% to 2%, the markhor’s recovery in Pakistan is seen as a success story. However, concerns remain about balancing trophy hunting with global conservation goals.
“Harsh conditions, poaching, and natural predators make survival challenging for the markhor,” Abbas explained. Yet, the markhor’s remarkable resurgence offers hope for other endangered species through sustainable conservation programs.
This iconic animal, celebrated for its agility and majestic spiral horns, continues to symbolize resilience amidst challenges, standing tall as Pakistan’s national pride.
