The very first hunting of the current year of Markhor – a large wild goat – was allowed by the Pakistani authorities against a permit sold for about Rs20 million despite the fact that the Markhor hunting is outlawed by the Wild Life.
The Wild Life officials on Wednesday disclosed that the very first shooting of the year of endangered Markhor was done by an American national Michael Joseph. The hunted wild animal was 9-year-old and was 43 inches tall. The American hunter bought the permit to kill it for around Rs20 million, they added.
The endangered flare-horned and straight-horned Markhors are found in Pakistan, Afghanistan and India. Their species are declining rapidly due to habitat loss, overhunting for meat and even for the trophies/laurels and competition from livestock. A Markhor is usually 37-40 inches high and the length of its horns is up to 63 inches.—INP
