Norwegian pays $81,200 for Markhor hunting in Pakistan

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http://www.nowpublic.com/sports/norwegian-pays-81-200-markhor-hunting-pakistan

A Norwegian national, Oyvind Christensen, hunted a Kashmiri Markhor in Toshi area of Pakistan’s mountainous Chitral district after paying $81,200 for permit.

Kashmiri Markhor is usually one-and-a-half-metre tall, weighing at an average 100 kilograms, with its horns measuring about 47 inches. Chitral is known for Kashmiri Markhor and every year the authorities earn millions of rupees through hunting permits.

About 20 per cent of the amount was given to the Wildlife Department, 40 per cent to local community and 40 per cent to the conservation committee.

Commenting on his visit to the area, Christensen said Chitral was a peaceful area and its people were very cooperative.

According to Divisional Forest Officer (Wildlife) Imtiaz Hussain, Chitral was home to more than 2,000 Markhors and other animals like ibex, snow leopard and rare birds.

As per estimate of Al-Burkhan Village Conservation Committee General Secretary Shahzada Gul, currently there are about 3,000 Markhors in Chitral, but the Wildlife Department issues only three permits every year.