In recent weeks, reports have been received about rampant ibex hunting in different parts of Chitral after the wildlife department introduced a scheme issuing permits to local people for hunting the wild goats at very low fees.
Such hunting reports have been received from Mroi, Booni, Mastuj, Brep, Dewangol; Ujnu Gol in Torkhow and many other areas with the latest being from Arkari valley.
Though the department did not disclose the amount of fees for the latest two ibexes killed in Arkari and Ujnu Gol, locals told ChitralToday that each hunter had paid less than 200,000 rupees.
The issuance of permits for the Himalayan ibex hunting to locals at an alarmingly low fee has sparked controversy among conservationists and environmentalists.
The permits, issued at a fraction of what many believe is the true cost of regulating wildlife, has raised concerns about the long-term impact on the region’s endangered species, particularly the Himalayan ibex.
While trophy hunting of Markhor has long been a tradition in the region in which foreign hunters pay a handsome fees in US dollars, the low cost of the permits to locals for ibex hunting has raised alarms about the effectiveness of the government’s conservation efforts.
The Himalayan ibex, already threatened by habitat loss and poaching, faces an additional risk with the growing accessibility of hunting permits, which may encourage overhunting.
Conservationists ChitralToday spoke to argued that the permits, issued at a minimal fee, fail to account for the true value of wildlife and do not provide adequate funding for the necessary conservation programs. They stress that hunting regulations need to be stringent and that fees should reflect the responsibility of preserving a species that is critical to the region’s biodiversity.
Critics further contend that without proper monitoring, the low-cost permits could lead to unsustainable hunting practices. The fear is that the local communities, while benefiting from the low fees, might overexploit the natural resources, jeopardizing the survival of the ibex and other wildlife in the area.
The Chitral district administration and the Wildlife Department have not yet provided a clear response regarding the rationale behind the reduced permit fees, with many questioning whether the move is an attempt to increase government revenue at the expense of environmental sustainability.
It is clear that there is a growing need for a more balanced and sustainable approach to wildlife conservation in Chitral.
Conservationists are calling for the government to revisit its policies and increase the permit fees to reflect the ecological importance of the Himalayan ibex, ensuring that hunting is both sustainable and beneficial to long-term conservation efforts.