Islamabad: An American has hunted Pakistan's national animal and rare wildlife species markhor after paying a record USD 110,000 permit fee during a trophy hunting season in the country's northern Gilgit-Baltistan region.
Markhor, a distinctive species of wild goat identified by its long hair and spiralled horns, is a protected species in Pakistan unless permitted by the government to kill it under trophy hunting programmes.
US national Bryan Kinsel Harlan hunted the highest-priced, flared-horned animal Monday from the
Sassi-Harmosh community conservation area in Sassi village of Gilgit, Dawn news reported.
According to the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) wildlife department, Harlan paid a whopping USD 110,000 for hunting the rare wildlife species in the region under a conservation programme.
This is the highest permit fee ever paid in the country.
The foreign hunter managed to hunt the 41-inch markhor trophy, which is considered a good-sized trophy, the report said.
"It was an easy and close shot and I am pleased to take this trophy," Harlan said.
On January 21, another US citizen Dianda Christopher Anthony hunted the highest-rated Astore markhor after paying USD 105,000, days after fellow countryman John Amistoso hunted the Astore Markhor in the community-controlled Bunji area of Gilgit, paying USD 100,000
permit fee.