The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Wildlife Department has accepted the highest bid ever for a permit to hunt a markhor in Chitral valued at $160,250 or a little over Rs 27 million as part of its trophy hunting initiative.

Hunter Mehran Safari made the successful bid that permits him hunt one markhor in Toshi-I game reserve in the district.

According to details, the provincial wildlife department auctioned four permits for hunting markhors, Pakistan’s national animal and classified as an endangered species, and managed to raise over half a million dollars.

The second highest bid, offered by Shikar Safari, was for $155,100. The same hunter was successful in the third and fourth bids of $135,150 and $125,100 for two markhors to be hunted at Keigah, Kohistan and Gehrait, Chitral respectively.

Furthermore, the highest bid received for the associated species of markhor, the Himalayan Ibex, was $3,600.

According to a wildlife department official, 80 per cent of the proceeds from the trophy hunting programme are distributed to the local communities, while the funds are transferred to their bank accounts for community development and wildlife conservation activities in the respective villages.