GILGIT: Two foreigners and a Lahore resident hunted two Himalayan ibex and a blue sheep in Hunza district of Gilgit-Baltistan under GB trophy hunting programme 2021-22.

       According to the GB conservator parks and wildlife, Mr Waleed from Lahore hunted the season’s first blue sheep with horns measuring 28 inches in Shimshal community control hunting area in Hunza on Saturday. He had obtained the permit by paying 6,600 US dollars.

       Likewise, a Spanish citizen hunted 46-inch Himalayan ibex in Khunjerab conservation area at payment of 8,000 US dollars as licence fee.

       Meanwhile, another foreigner, whose name and country couldn’t be known, hunted a 48-inch trophy-size Himalayan ibex in Mintika valley of Misgar conservation area of Hunza. He had paid 6,200 dollars for the hunt.

       Eighty per cent of the amount of trophy goes to the community for conservation of wildlife, while the remaining 20 per cent is deposited in the government exchequer.

       GB parks and wildlife department had auctioned four licences for hunting of four Astore Markhor, 14 licences for blue sheep and 85 licences for Himalayan ibex under the trophy hunting programme 2021-22.

       Published in Dawn, December 6th, 2021