The Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Wildlife and Parks Department will auction permits for 118 animals for the 2025-26 hunting season. These include four Astore markhors, 100 Himalayan ibex, and 14 blue sheep. The auction will be held at the Forest, Parks, and Wildlife Complex in Gilgit, Pakistan.
The starting prices this season are $200,000 for an Astore markhor, $30,000 for a blue sheep, and $10,000 for a Himalayan ibex. These are higher than last year’s prices, which were $150,000, $9,000, and $5,500, respectively. In the 2024-25 season, only 60 of the 118 permits were sold. The highest bid for an Astore markhor was $161,000, bringing in over 30 million rupees for the GB government.
Local outfitters and tour operators worry that the higher fees may hurt their businesses and reduce interest from international hunters. Ikram Beg, an outfitter from Gilgit, said the high prices have lowered participation and hurt local incomes. Syed Sumsam Ali Bokhari, chairman of Safari Club International Pakistan Chapter, said that GB’s prices are higher than those in nearby countries. For example:
- A markhor hunt in Tajikistan costs around $160,000, including travel and logistics.
- Blue sheep hunts in Nepal average $29,000.
- Ibex hunts in Central Asia range from $8,500 to $9,900.
Bokhari also mentioned security concerns, political tensions, and recent terrorist attacks in places like Chitral, which make Pakistan less attractive to hunters. He urged the GB Wildlife Department to lower prices to match the region.
The Trophy Hunting Program
Started in 1990 in Bar Valley, Nagar, the trophy hunting program in GB involves local communities. They get 80% of the money, which helps fund conservation and development projects. The program has helped protect endangered animals like the Astore markhor. However, some fear that high prices could harm the program’s future success.
American Hunter Pays Record Rs75 Million for Markhor Trophy Hunt in Pakistan
The auction helps support wildlife conservation but faces challenges in balancing fair prices for hunters with benefits for local people. Lower hunter participation could reduce funds for community projects.
