Pakistan
Trophy Hunting – Photographs from Khyber, Gojal
Shared by: Asghar Khan
Hunting in the protected areas is allowed on strict legal conditions. The hunter also pays USD 3,000 to the community for each hunted animal.
These photographs show a Mexican hunter, Francisco Vizcaino, in Khyber village of Gojal Valley, along with his local companion.
We sell ourselves very cheap! A traveller from the USA or Mexico pays more than 5000 USD just for his Business Class air ticket. The cost of his travel and hotels comes to another 5000 USD … why should a village settle for 3000 USD!!!
Then there is the question of trophy hunting permits selling for over 30 and 50000 USD in Chitral. WHY THIS HUGE DIFFERENCE IN TROPHY CHARGES? WHY ARE TROPHY CHARGES NOT THE SAME IN ALL AREAS – WHY THIS DISCRIMINATION ? The “influential people of GB who are part of the Trophy Hunting scenario should be questioned why they do not get more for the GB communities. This is not a question of handouts or “baksheesh” this is a question of getting the Wildlife Department, the organizers and telling them that the locals will not allow hunting unless rates and charges are made equal as in Chtiral. The locals of GB deserve equality!
Im not a hunter, therefore understanding the reasons why people hunt are hard to comprehend. On top of which, understanding why accessibility and permits to hunt in one place opposed to another or one animal opposed to another is so different. These aren’t permits for cheap hotel rooms or meal tickets or bus rides – you’re paying to kill a living breathing creature for the fun of it, for showing off to your self, and to everyone who sees your ‘trophy’ puffed up and hung proud….it must cost to kill – cost big enough where it hurts a little – so that killing is less about sport and looking for bargains in Gojal valley with its abundant Markhor, and more about necessity – like those controlled forest fires.
All this from a lay person – someone might have good reasons and great answers to any or all objections to killing – but while you’re allowing it in your back yard ‘why sell yourself so cheap’?
I do agree with Mr.Nisar Malik, there is a big differences between the trophy hunting fee in different parts of Pakistan .I don’t want to highlight all those areas because Mr.Nisar has already described in detail the happenings in our GB.
I just want to suggest the high authority to take activities regarding to this matter and prepare a proper bylaws for trophy hunting in GB.
Dear Nisar Malik i agree ! sure there is big thieves ripping off poor communities of GB just paying 3000 us$ which is not fair at all .Hope all the VO will take action on this matter stand up people of GB.
our Ibex -protect them- they are khuda creatures in our watan.. why are we putting price on their heads.. afsos.
The Mexican will make taco out of meat.
The licence fee should go towards conservation and disaster mitigation
Dear Tahereh and Fauziye, One must understand that Trophy Hunting is based on a sensible practice of “culling” old animals. This practice allows the older or hurt animals (especially the males) to be killed thus allowing younger males to take their place and help strengthen the herds. However it is IMPERATIVE that the practice be conducted professionally, scientifically and with great transparency … the proceeds of such hunting are supposed to go to the communities 80% and 20% to the Wildlife Department .. I think these are correct figures! However the problem lies with the improper handling of the process and the distribution. Killing animals for fun is not a sport I like but culling animals for the benefit of the survival and future of the herd is an established good practice …. I still maintain that the people of GB are (As Ghulam Ahmed said) being ripped off … and that MUST STOP!
wow,,, some people are even in favor of hunting??? lol, why even discussing the rates? why not talk about hunting in the first place. And Mr Nisar Maliks comment, i would not agree with you cuz there isn’t any detail research done either by WWF or other wildlife organizations about habitat and true figures about IBEX population on both ranges Karakorum and hindukush extending through vast areas covering six districts, so its unknown about IBEX and its behavioral sciences whether killing an old IBEX would help its population in anyway, even an old IBEX is part of ecosystem. may be that old IBEX in coming times had saved its herd members, may be in future it had alerted the fellow IBEXes from hunters. this sounds funny but a tiny disturbance make a devastating change in its herd. recent figures have shown that in previous decade the population of IBEX has dropped down exponentially in GB. i would rather say it should have been much better that old IBEX had fallen down the ridge and die naturally rather been sold.