GILGIT: A Filipino hunter on Tuesday hunted the highest rated Astore markhor, a rare species in Gilgit-Baltistan, during the ongoing trophy hunting season in GB.

Founandous hunted his trophy in Sasi area of the Haramosh valley of Gilgit. He paid 65,000 US dollars to GB wildlife department for the purpose.

“An Astore markhor measuring 44 inches was hunted from a distance of 260 meters in mountainous area of Haramosh,” an official of local wildlife department told Dawn on condition of anonymity.

He said to ensure any misuse of the trophy hunting permit, local guide and labourers of wildlife accompanied the Filipino during the hunting.

The official quoted the Filipino as saying, “It was a wonderful experience to hunt a markhor in mountainous area of the region. Without the support of local community, I wouldn’t have been able to hunt the trophy”.

The wildlife official said the hunting season in the region began in November and ended in April.

The trophy hunting quota is created on the basis of annual surveys conducted by wildlife experts, he added.

GB wildlife department announced the licence fee for trophy hunting programme, 2015-16, for foreign and local hunters in October, last year.

Fee for international hunters was fixed at US dollars 65,000 for Astore markhor, $8,000 for blue sheep, and $3,100 for ibex. For local hunters, licence fee was set at 65,000 US dollars for Astore markhor, $5,000 for blue sheep, and $1,500 for Ibex.

In the current season, 30 species have been hunted in different areas of the region.

The wildlife official said seven hunters from the United States, Norway and Philippine had hunted seven ibexes and one Astore markhor during the current season.

The remaining 23 species, mostly ibexes, have been hunted by local hunters, he added.

He said ten local people had been arrested and sent to jail after being fined for hunting illegally in different areas of the region.

Trophy hunting programme began in the 1980s. It is carried out under the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wildlife and is allowed only in notified areas of GB.

Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2016