Thomas Garrick Steele, a seasoned 75-year-old hunter hailing from the United States, recently embarked on a remarkable journey to the Tushi-Shasha Conservancy in the Lower Chitral region of Pakistan. His mission: to legally hunt the elusive Kashmir markhor, a magnificent wild goat renowned for its impressive spiraled horns and status as a national symbol of Pakistan. To participate in this rare and highly regulated hunt, Steele purchased an official permit from the local wildlife department, paying an astonishing $243,000—equivalent to roughly Rs. 68.3 million. This significant sum highlights both the exclusivity and the high demand associated with trophy hunting of the markhor, an activity that continues to attract affluent international sportsmen.
Facts About Famous Astore Markhor
The hunt was a collaborative effort between the government’s wildlife division and the local communities, reflecting a model where conservation and community engagement go hand in hand. Farooq Nabi, the head of the Wildlife Division in Chitral, emphasized the extensive coordination required to facilitate such a hunt. Local villagers, often through well-established conservation committees, are actively involved in the management of these hunts, ensuring that the process is transparent and that the sustainability of markhor populations is maintained. Steele selected a particularly impressive specimen, a markhor boasting massive 55-inch horns and successfully made his shot from around 250 meters away, using an American rifle he had brought specifically for the occasion. The skill and precision required for such a hunt underscore the markhor’s reputation as a challenging and prestigious trophy.
This particular hunt was conducted under the government’s exportable trophy quota, a regulatory measure that allows a limited number of markhor to be hunted each year, primarily by foreign hunters. The revenue generated from these permits serves a dual purpose: it provides critical funding for wildlife conservation efforts and offers substantial economic benefits to local communities. In fact, approximately 80% of the proceeds from these hunting permits are allocated directly to the villages surrounding the conservancies. These funds are managed by community-led conservation committees, which use the money to initiate and sustain development projects such as building schools, improving healthcare facilities, and maintaining infrastructure. This revenue-sharing model has been credited with incentivizing local populations to protect the markhor and its habitat, as the continued presence of these animals directly contributes to the community’s welfare.
It’s worth noting that Pakistan’s approach to trophy hunting has evolved over time. Last year, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province introduced a new program wherein the horns of hunted markhors remain with the wildlife department, rather than being exported with the hunter. This shift aims to preserve elements of the country’s natural heritage while still benefiting from the economic advantages of regulated trophy hunting.
Every year, the wildlife department meticulously organizes auctions for a limited number of markhor hunting permits typically three across several conservancies within Chitral district. This strict quota system is designed to ensure that hunting remains sustainable and does not threaten the long-term survival of the species. The success of this model has drawn international attention, serving as a potential blueprint for other countries seeking to balance wildlife conservation with community development and sustainable tourism. Through such carefully managed programs, the story of the Kashmir markhor stands as a testament to the possibility of aligning economic interests with the preservation of Pakistan’s unique and precious natural heritage.
Source Dawn
