Gilgit: A record-breaking USD 370,000 (approximately PKR 105 million) bid was placed on Wednesday for the trophy hunting of Pakistan’s national animal, the markhor, in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). Officials described it as the highest bid ever offered for a hunting permit in the country.
The permit was secured by Zoom Hunting, a leading outfitter, during an auction organised by the GB Parks and Wildlife Department under the 2025–26 trophy hunting season. The previous highest bid stood at USD 271,000, recorded in October 2024 for a hunt in Chitral’s Toshi-Shasha conservancy.
The auction offered permits for multiple species, including markhor, ibex, and blue sheep, attracting participation from national and international outfitters as well as representatives from Community-Controlled Hunting Areas (CCHAs). An ibex hunting permit sold for USD 14,000.
The second-highest markhor bid, USD 286,000, was won by Wild Hunting for a hunt in the Tangir-Khanbari area of Diamer district, while the third-highest permit in the same area fetched USD 240,000, secured by Shikar Safari.
According to officials, 80 percent of the trophy hunting revenue is transferred to local communities, with the remaining 20 percent deposited into the government treasury. The programme is widely credited with supporting wildlife conservation and community development in the region.
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