National Animal of Pakistan-Markhor
Pakistan’s national animal is Markhor; its Persian name means “to kill a snake.” It also represents Pakistan‘s military prowess. As a result, it serves as the emblem for Pakistan’s ISI intelligence service.
National animal of Pakistan-Markhor were a common target for hunters in Pakistan after 1947 and during the British Raj. By1990, relentless hunting had brought Markhors to the verge of extinction. As a result, in order to protect the Markhor species, the Pakistani government outlawed Markhor hunting. Additionally, the government granted pricey hunting licences to hunt down senior Markhors as part of the conservation effort.
Typically, markhors range in height from 26 to 45 inches, have black and light brown coats, and weigh 32 to 110 kilos. Markhors tend to be redder in colour and have longer beards on average in males. They have horns that resemble corkscrews and expand upward, closer to their heads.
Markhors horns typically reach a length of 65 inches in males but only 10 inches in females.The Karakoram, the Himalayas, and Central Asia are where you can find Markhors. They typically reside in juniper, oak, and pine woodlands. Due of their nocturnal nature, Markhor is awake in the morning and the afternoon. Markhors often eat grass in the summer and spring and soft buds, leaves, or bushes in the winter.
Markhor Hunting
Markhor hunting started during the British Raj and persisted through1947, even after Pakistan attained independence. The main reason it kept going was how exciting and risky it was to chase after Markhors across the high mountain terrain. Pakistan’s national animal, the Markhor, had a worryingly low population in 1990 and was on the verge of extinction.
The Chitral Conservation Trophy Hunting Program was launched by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) government’s wildlife division in 1983. The Pakistani government outlawed Markhors hunting in1991, ending this programme.
Local population took an active part in the Chitral Conservation Trophy Hunting Programme which was introduced in 1998. Two conservancies were established in 2000 to preserve Markhor: Tushi Sasha and Gehrait. Since then, Markhors trophy hunting has been organised annually in Kashmir.
The KPK Wildlife Department uses national and international media to advertise its search for hunters in September. The parties make offers. Then, the licence to hunt a Markhor within 14 days goes to the highest bidder. Local community gets 80% of the earnings from the program.
The government imposes an expensive licence price. Despite this, American hunter Edward Joseph Hudson went to Tushi Sasha to pursue a Markhor and paid a $88,000.00 permit fee for the Trophy Hunting Programme.This programme is an excellent illustration of sustainability and conservation.
