Private operators misusing trophy hunting scheme
Jamal Shahid Published March 14, 2021


Trophy hunting has been a success story in Pakistan but private as well as some registered trophy hunting operators are failing it by offering foreign hunters a menu of off wild animals that are endangered and need to be protected. — Dawn/File

ISLAMABAD: Trophy hunting has been a success story in Pakistan but private as well as some registered trophy hunting operators are failing it by offering foreign hunters a menu of off wild animals that are endangered and need to be protected, Dawn learnt through sources in the World Wildlife Fund and the Ministry of Climate Change.

In theory, trophy hunting presents many advantages. If correctly regulated, the proceeds aim to support endangered species though many would be outraged by the idea of why animals are killed.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Climate Change Malik Amin Aslam said his office supported regulated hunting as a positive step for conservation and helping local communities.

Some of the animals that can be legally trophy hunted include species of mountain goats such as the Punjab urial, Himalayan blue sheep, the Afghan urial and the Sindh ibex. Trophy hunters are required to purchase expensive permits to shoot these animals. Every year in Pakistan, trophy hunters spend $80,000 to $100,000 plus and the permit is auctioned to the highest bidder.
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They offer foreign hunters a menu of off wild, endangered animals that need to be protected, official says

The fact that Pakistan offers hunters the opportunity to kill some of the most iconic animals is not the only reason why it is becoming an attractive country to hunt. It is also because outfitters are offering foreign hunters even off-limits endangered species. Since last decade, outfitters have been arranging to kill the nilgai, Indian hog deer or para, black bucks or Indian antelopes, chinkara or India gazelle, Kennion gazelle and rare species such as the golden jackal and the Asian jungle cat, animals that are strictly off limits, said a source in WWF.

“Pakistan is a fantastic destination for mountain hunters. This country is home to three species of markhor, the holy grail of wild goats. There are two species of ibex - Himalayan and Sindh, plus a variety of sheep including Himalayan blue sheep, blanford, Afghan and Punjab urials. On top of these magnificent creatures, some often overlooked animals include hog deer, two species of gazelle, varmints like jackal and Asian wildcat, along with partridge shooting, whatever might be possible, and you have the makings of the ultimate hunting destinations,” a hunter showed off after registering his trophies with Safari Club International (SCI). SCI is a platform that claims to ensure freedom to hunt as well as conserve wildlife around the world.

Another foreign hunter after registering his trophies with a similar platform called the The Hunting Report, boasted: “We finished up the hunt at a pleasant camp on the Indus River, northeast of Karachi, where we hunted free-range hog deer, gazelle and wild boar. This is a scenic wooded area with plenty of game. Nilgai, black buck and Jackal are also available there.”

In April, 2018, US Fish and Wildlife Service detained some trophies, which were exported from Karachi without export permits. Copy of a fake NOC was provided to the US Fish and Wildlife Service for clearance of trophies such as blanford urial, Punjab urial, Himalayan ibex, Sindh ibex and for three illegally hunted chinkara gazelle, hog deer and golden jackal. Documents seen by Dawn show that the Provincial Wildlife Department, Pakistan Customs and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) were requested to investigate the matter. However, the concerned departments did not respond.

“And this is the case that we know. Either people in the customs are not doing their jobs or these trophies are being illegally exported in diplomatic baggage. No export permits have ever been issued for chinkara, hog deer, Asian wildcat, jackal, black bucks or the nilgai,” a source in the Ministry of Climate Change said.

“Some of these endangered animals do not get the headlines like the markhor or the ibex but their populations are plummeting,” the official said.

It is not only how the half a dozen or so outfitters manage to arrange hunting for these rare exotic animals. It is also how the outfitters go overboard when arranging the so-called adventure for hunting parties that sometimes involves misappropriation of government resources. These include police escorts from the airport to the hotel and to hunting grounds.American hunters Jason Bruce and Renee Snider wrote on the Facebook page of an operator, how he killed a “non-exportable” Ladakh urial but the local operator, after many failed attempts, arranged for the permits. Canadian Jim Shockey had praised his outfitter for, “Having all his ducks in a row for the government licences including export permits.”

Juraj Gyimesi from Hungry has been hunting in Pakistan since 2008, and praised his outfitter for surprising him, “By offering me a bonus hunt for free for animals such as wild boars, golden jackals, jungle cats and partridge.”

When contacted, Malik Amin Aslam said trophy hunting was a conservation concept. “Animals that have reached the end of their lives and are 13 years or 14 years old, for example the urial lives for 15 years, are put out for trophy hunting. While the government keeps about 20 per cent of the money generated from the auction, the remaining proceeds go to development of the communities, which in return become custodians of the habitat and their animals and protect them from poaching,” he said.

He argued that trophy hunting had proved successful in Gilgit-Baltistan context where markhors, ibex and the Marco Polo sheep were almost extinct but were now thriving. It was all linked with trophy hunting, he said.

“There are few outfitters offering a menu of animals to be hunted and we take strict action. We are the custodians of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). CITES regulates trade of any animal trophy. Illegal hunt gets clamped down by communities that see their assets being destroyed. If a hunter kills illegally, the communities become the warriors to stop such hunts,” he said.

Published in Dawn, March 14th, 2021

Thank you Aziz. This was very enlightening.

Do I remember incorrectly or have there been pics of blackbuck, nilgai and jackal on Pir Danish reports (I went back and looked but all photos have been deleted?)

Another thing that caught my eye in Aziz’s article

quote:

Animals that have reached the end of their lives and are 13 years or 14 years old, for example the urial lives for 15 years, are put out for trophy hunting

Are they stating these animals are raised domestically then placed for hunting?

I don’t think so. They are making these older wild animals available to hunt .

Thanks, Aziz.

I will not comment further than to say that Mr. Bruce seems to be in serious trouble.

Blaming the outfitter in this case will only get him so far and that is not likely to be far enough.

But the reverse of that?

That would be interesting to see.

Of course, I need to step back from the freak show aspects of this and look at it from the perspective of a lawful international hunter.

From that perspective, this is simply deplorable.

We will all suffer because of this sort of thing.

I spoke with an attorney today who, by complete random chance , was in the courtroom when Jason Bruce was arraigned. According to her, bond was set at $750,000 secured and $750,000 unsecured .

If true, this is very serious .

Obviously this is far more important than murder, hell you can get out of jail for nothing
an hour or two later.

https://www.govinfo.gov/conten...-2_23-cr-00080-2.pdf


Link to bond information.

The way I read this , there was a $750,000 unsecured bond replaced by a $750,000 secured bond .

In fairness to the lawyer , she was reading it at a traffic light . Regardless, still very substantial.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
The way I read this , there was a $750,000 unsecured bond replaced my a $750,000 secured bond .

In fairness to the lawyer , she was reading it at a traffic light . Regardless, still very substantial.

…and Jason Bruce thinks (or thought) he was going to plead it to a misdemeanor, pay a fine and get on with his life. I doubt it.

It’ll be interesting to follow this as it moves toward trial, that’s for sure.

I got this last night on this

Glorifying the TROPHY!

Hunting is only necessary to obtain a TROPHY!

The HOLY GRAIL of COMPETITION hunting!!

I just wonder who has been glorifying THAT!

Could someone explain why all the focus is on the Hunter and the assumption is that the outfitter is innocent?

quote:

Originally posted by 505 gibbs:
Could someone explain why all the focus is on the Hunter and the assumption is that the outfitter is innocent?

It is simple .

Jason Bruce is the person who allegedly illegally imported the animal. Jason Bruce is the person who allegedly lied to the authorities.

They are both charged with conspiracy.

Did Jason Bruce not get the documents from his outfitter? Collect the animals with his outfitter?

quote:

Originally posted by 505 gibbs:
Did Jason Bruce not get the documents from his outfitter? Collect the animals with his outfitter?

If you read the indictment, he pushed the outfitter to help him get it exported. The outfitter repeatedly told him it could not be exported .

In the final analysis , Jason Bruce is the person who physically brought the Ladakh urial to the US. That is against the law . Jason Bruce is the one who lied to the authorities. That is against the law.

I should add allegedly to these statements.

Understood

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:

quote:

Originally posted by 505 gibbs:
Did Jason Bruce not get the documents from his outfitter? Collect the animals with his outfitter?

If you read the indictment, he pushed the outfitter to help him get it exported. The outfitter repeatedly told him it could not be exported .

In the final analysis , Jason Bruce is the person who physically brought the Ladakh urial to the US. That is against the law . Jason Bruce is the one who lied to the authorities. That is against the law.

505, there was another Californian who also shot a Ladakh Urial on a hunt with Indus Safaris. As I understand it, she left the trophy in Pakistan to be displayed there. And I’m not aware of any concern about the legality of her hunt. The issue, as Larry explained, stems from Mr. Bruce allegedly importing the animal in violation of US endangered species laws.

quote:

It is also because outfitters are offering foreign hunters even off-limits endangered species. Since last decade, outfitters have been arranging to kill the nilgai, Indian hog deer or para, black bucks or Indian antelopes, chinkara or India gazelle, Kennion gazelle and rare species such as the golden jackal and the Asian jungle cat, animals that are strictly off limits, said a source in WWF.

Is the above an accurate statement? Have any of these species been taken on Pir Danish's hunts? By AR Members?

quote:

Originally posted by 505 gibbs:

quote:

It is also because outfitters are offering foreign hunters even off-limits endangered species. Since last decade, outfitters have been arranging to kill the nilgai, Indian hog deer or para, black bucks or Indian antelopes, chinkara or India gazelle, Kennion gazelle and rare species such as the golden jackal and the Asian jungle cat, animals that are strictly off limits, said a source in WWF.

Is the above an accurate statement? Have any of these species been taken on Pir Danish's hunts? By AR Members?

It is true that at least some of these animals were offered to some.

I went in 2021 (I think). Some, but not all, of these were offered to me. However, I was clearly told these animals were legal yet not exportable. I did not export or attempt to export any of these animals. I only brought back a Blanford urial. This was shipped some months later.

To be blunt, I now believe that some of these were released. In other words, they were not wild.

After I shot the nilgai, I immediately realized there was an issue. Without going into all the grizzly details, I immediately questioned whether it was fair chase. I was assured it was. There is not a chance in hell that it was. My cameraman is a PH from Zimbabwe. He 100% agrees with me.

There are two other animals that I did not suspect at the time. I did note that we only saw a single animal of each. At the time, I wondered if they had been over shot. I never thought they were released. However, based on subsequent information I have received, I now believe that both of these were released.

Some of these species have been taken on TV shows. As an example, Aaron Neilson took a black buck in the EXACT same canyon as I took mine. In retrospect, that was a warning sign.

Wow Larry, that sucks, this can be a dirty game at times. Are the Nilgai and blackbuck legal to hunt? The article from Aziz (not clearly written imho) could have been read that they are protected?

quote:

Originally posted by 505 gibbs:
Wow Larry, that sucks, this can be a dirty game at times. Are the Nilgai and blackbuck legal to hunt? The article from Aziz (not clearly written imho) could have been read that they are protected?

Wild populations are protected as I now understand it. These were not wild populations. I believe it to be legal. I would have preferred to be advised ahead of time.

Understood, thx for the information

Canned hunts in Pakistan good grief, I’ve seen everything now!!

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
I got this last night on this

I could not agree more.

quote:

Originally posted by AR MAN:
Canned hunts in Pakistan good grief, I’ve seen everything now!!

"Canned" hunting has been going in Pakistan as far as I can remember.

Pakistani officials are probably the most corrupt of any hunting organizations in the world.

They even surpass the USFW!

I will hunt in Pakistan only when they accept the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God and confess to him their many sins, including their acquiescence in the assassination of Benazir Bhutto by al-Qaeda, and then seek salvation through eternal penance and prayer.

Just kidding.

I will never hunt in Pakistan.

I’d like to go back and see the northern part of the country . The mountains in particular. They are magnificent . If a markhor is encountered and I have a gun……

Pakistan has outstanding hunting for mountain game, the local village organizations have WWF sponsored (believe it or not) and Pakistan F&W sponsored NGO's that have brought back some of these animals from the brink of extinction.

The areas where these hunts are conducted are true wilderness areas.

There are some of us on this board that know the Country well and would point you in the right direction if you need help.
Go and hunt in Pakistan while USFW allows import of some of these animals.
Talk to USFW before you go, so you know what can legally be brought back.





Sindh Ibex

Thanks, Aziz, for those photos. Which Urial is that sheep you took? Stunning country in the north!

Thank you, the first photo is of my Blandford Urial, the last photo is of my Punjab Urial.

Pakistan is a magnificent country. I had a great time on the hunt in spite of these issues.

I will admit that I did not like the being in the big cities. Too much traffic as well.

I’d definitely go back .

Good for you, Aziz. Great animals!

Aziz, thanks for sharing and that’s the kind of news reports that I enjoy. The ones that share true hunting and a positive light on it!

Just got notice this morning my Sindh Ibex is ready to be shipped to the States. It took about 13 months to get it processed. Seems they had to redo the CITIES paperwork... hmmmmm.

Just read through the paperwork and the wrong letter was inserted for the reason for import. Changed a T to an H or something like that but good to go now.

This document along with others as well as some video clips makes me believe this was a 100% legal hunt . The problem started with Jason Bruce wanting to import the urial to the US . Danish repeatedly told Jason that it could not be exported . In fact , the permit above references scientific usage .

Was it wise for some of the things said to be put in writing? Obviously not. At least one was a joke. The prosecutor truncated the sentence .

Life in Pakistan is a lot differ than life here . The things done seem to be much more common over there .

I hunted with Indus in 2021. It was a great, well run hunt . Personally, I would go with Indus again. However , I’d be a bit more cautious about those animals hunted .

Larry I agree the Permit is a legal one. Bruce should never have tried to bring it back to the United States.
Looks like Pir was upfront and gave him the right information.

I am sorry to see this turn into such a mess

Aziz

quote:

Originally posted by Aziz:
Larry I agree the Permit is a legal one. Bruce should never have tried to bring it back to the United States.
Looks like Pir was upfront and gave him the right information.

I am sorry to see this turn into such a mess

Aziz

And a mess it is .

https://www.govinfo.gov/conten...-2_23-cr-00080-3.pdf



The government has represented that the discovery associated with
this case includes approximately 82,841 pages of reports, video and audio
recordings, emails, photographs, and other material. In addition, digital device
extractions will be produced in discovery and made available for inspection. U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service also has physical evidence available for inspection.

With that much evidence to review, I would think a delay would be expected. I wonder how long it will be until the actual trial if there is one? A plea bargain might stop everything.

Until this is resolved. I think Jason's days of international hunting are over.

By the way, another American was mentioned in one of the articles posted. I am told he has no charges against him. He even went back to Pakistan recently.