Trophy Hunting in Pakistan is a form of hunting for sport in which parts of the hunted wild animals are kept and displayed as trophies. Pakistan harbors a collection of the most uncommon types of wild sheep and goats on the planet. These include the Blue Sheep, Kashmir, Astor, and Suleman Markhors, as well as Punjab, Blandford, and Afghan Urials, alongside the Himalayan and Sindh Ibex.[1]
Community-based trophy hunting programs
editPakistan has developed a community-centered trophy-hunting initiative that relies on incentives as a means of conservation. This approach is meticulously structured to find an equilibrium between the preservation requirements of mountain ecosystems and the economic needs of marginalized communities that have shared their environment with wildlife for generations.[2] The initial instance of such a program in Pakistan was the Chitral Conservation Hunting Program (CCHP) targeting Markhor, which commenced in 1983.[3][4]
Trophy hunting and conservation
editTrophy hunting has produced positive results in Pakistan. Presently, the markhor population in the country has surged to a range of 3,500 to 4,000 individuals, in contrast to the figures of 1,500 to 2,000 noted in 2001. Within the framework of the trophy hunting initiative, indigenous communities are allocated 80% of the license fees, while the remaining portion is retained by the government.[5]
Controversies
editDespite its achievements, trophy hunting in Pakistan has raised apprehensions. Some privately operated and even certain officially registered trophy hunting operators have fallen short in upholding its principles. They have been criticized for providing foreign hunters with options to pursue and kill endangered wild animals that warrant protection.[6][7]
References
edit- ^ "Pakistan, big game trophy hunting, markhor, astor, sulaiman, suleman, kashmir, blue sheep, ibex, himalayan, sindh, urial, blandford, afghan, punjab, wild boar driven hunts". Pakistanguides.com. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
- ^ Babar Khan (25 March 2021). "The story behind why Gilgit-Baltistan allows trophy hunting". Tribune.com.pk. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
- ^ "TROPHY HUNTING \ ESPECIALLY IN PAKISTAN wildlife(1)". Slideshare.net. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
- ^ "A review of community-based trophy hunting programs in Pakistan". IUCN. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
- ^ "Pakistan fetches record-high revenue through markhor trophy hunting". Thenews.com.pk. 2021-11-05. Retrieved 2023-08-19.
- ^ Shahid, Jamal (March 14, 2021). "Private operators misusing trophy hunting scheme". DAWN.COM.
- ^ "Trophy hunting in Pakistan: American hunter Bryan Kinsel Harlan paid $110K to kill a rare mountain goat". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2023-08-19.