US national hunts markhor for record $212,000

CHITRAL: A US national has hunted markhor in Lower Chitral for a record $212,000 trophy.

The American national, Deron James Millman, had acquired a permit for trophy hunting from the Wildlife Department.

The US national hunted the nine-and-a-half-year-old Kashmir Markhor in Toshi Conservancy close to the Chitral town on Saturday.

The markhors come down to fields in winter in search of food and it is considered one of easiest legal hunting facilities, said an official.

“The markors were grazing in a field near Shali village when the US national hunted the selected markhor,” said the official.

The license for the markhor was issued through bidding in October last year. The Wildlife Department shares the hunting amount with the local communities who in return play a major role in curbing the illegal poaching of the endangered wild animals. The official said that the population of markhors has increased in the area over the years after the launch of community-based conservation.