https://www.samaa.tv/news/2019...ts-gilgit-baltistan/



For $83,500, you can shoot Pakistan’s national animal

Manzar Shigri
6 hours ago

The Gilgit-Baltistan government has given hunters the green light to hunt some rare animals. It auctioned off permits to hunt 124 animals, including four astor markhor.

Hunters from all over Pakistan and the rest of the world come to the country in the winter to hunt.


The markhor is Pakistan’s national animal and the permit to hunt one cost $83,500 this year. Last year, the permit cost $110,000.

A blue sheep or bharal permit was auctioned off at $8,900.

Mehmood Ghaznavi, a conservator at the Gilgit-Baltistan wildlife department, said the bidding this year was better because they had “better rates”. He said more people participated in the auction and that the results were “encouraging”.

Last season, the permit to hunt markhor cost $110,000 and locals are unhappy that the permit was sold at a lower price this year. The money from the permit is divided between locals and the federal government, with 80% going to locals.

I could buy a house for that...it's turning into a rich mans sport....not good !!

The value now placed on these animals has guaranteed their survival.
They were at the brink of extinction just 20 years ago.

And the rarity of any trophy dictates the price. Supply vs. demand. While there are a lot of inexpensive hunting options close to home, I don't know when international hunting has been considered an "everyman's" sport.

Yes, great value on an animal for hunting purposes will help it survive.