Communities get Rs91m as trophy hunting royalty

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Wildlife Department on Tuesday distributed Rs91.269 million among representatives of 26 communities from Chitral and Kohistan districts as their royalty from the Markhor Trophy Hunt.

The cash distribution ceremony was held with Minister for Forests, Environment and Wildlife Ishtiaq Urmar as chief guest.

The wildlife department’s chief conservator Mohsin Farooque informed the participants about the trophy hunting programme and said since its initiation in 1998 a total of 78 trophy hunts of Markhor had been conducted.

He said that during 2019-20, one Markhor permit was sold at 150,000 dollars in the “interest of the local communities,” which was the highest record rate the world over. He said the amount was paid to communities of Chitral and Kohistan to acknowledge their role in the conservation of Markhor and Himalayan Ibex.

“Of the total bid amount of the trophy hunts, almost 80 percent share is given to communities of the areas where the hunt is conducted while 20 percent is retained by the government,” he added.

Special Secretary Forestry, Environment and Wildlife Department Matiullah Khan highlighted the role, conservation and importance of wildlife in creation of balance ecosystem and development initiatives in the forestry, environment and wildlife sectors.