GB to auction hunting permits for 3 markhors, 14 blue sheep, 100 ibexes

GILGIT: Gilgit-Baltistan’s Parks and Wildlife Department will auction hunting permits for three Astore markhor, 14 blue sheep and 100 ibexes for the GB Trophy Hunting programme 2026-27.

The highest permit base rate is for markhor, set at $200,000. The base rate for blue sheep hunting permits has been set at $25,000, and at $11,000 for Himalayan ibex.

The auction notice said that out of the exportable quota of four Astore markhors, one permit had been extended from the last hunting season, so three new permits would be auctioned in September.

The open bidding for the permits will be held on September 10 at the Forest Complex in Jutial, Gilgit.

According to the official notice, trophy hunting will be conducted under GB Trophy Hunting Guidelines 2019, starting October 15 until April 10, 2027.

Hunting would be permissible only in the designated conservation areas.

The trophy hunting quota had been set on the basis of annual surveys conducted by wildlife experts, the notice said.

GB Chief Conservator Parks and Wildlife Zakir Hussain told Dawn that last year, Rs35 million was collected from the auctioned permits against a target of Rs55m.

He added that permits for two Astore markhors, five blue sheep and 10 exportable Himalayan ibexes went unused in the 2025-26 trophy hunting programme, resulting in a loss of Rs20m.

Hussain had told Dawn at the time that the law and order situation following violent protests in Gilgit and Skardu — against the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli attacks — had led to the cancellation of hunting plans by American and other foreign hunters.

Local business owners and tour operators have been opposing the permit rate hikes for the past two years, claiming that the decision had damaged their businesses and discouraged international clients.

They have warned of losses for businesses and the local communities who rely on trophy-hunting revenue.

Ikram Beg, a business owner who sells hunting equipment, said the trophy hunting conservation programme in GB was facing a serious challenge.

“Over the last two years, the Wildlife Department has repeatedly increased trophy hunting baseline price by more than 300 per cent without adequately considering the recommendations of key stakeholders,” he said.

Beg said that the unilateral and excessive increases were making GB less competitive in the international hunting market.

He warned that if the trend continued, it could reduce hunting revenue, weaken community incentives and ultimately put the entire conservation programme at risk.

“Trophy hunting was introduced as a conservation tool, not simply as a means of maximising government revenue. Its success depends on sustainable pricing, international participation, transparent management and meaningful benefits for local communities,” he noted.

Local business owners demanded that the relevant authorities review and rationalise baseline prices as well as consult communities, conservation experts and professional stakeholders, while ensuring transparency and compliance with relevant regulations and requirements.

Despite global controversy surrounding trophy hunting, supporters argue that such programmes help prevent poaching, empower local communities and contribute to wildlife conservation.

Hunting the three animals is extremely challenging in the region, with hunters facing rugged, difficult slopes and extremely cold weather.

The trophy hunting programme started in GB with the local community’s involvement in Bar Valley, Nagar, in 1990. Around 80pc of the money earned from licences goes to the community for wildlife protection and conservation.

Last year, the GB Wildlife and Parks Department had auctioned off hunting permits for 118 animals for the 2025–26 season, with the top permit for an Astore markhor fetching $370,000.

GB is rich in biodiversity due to its varied climate and ecosystems. The region is home to several rare species, including Marco Polo sheep, ibex, markhor, urial, blue sheep, lynx, snow leopard, leopard cat, brown and black bears, wolves, foxes, marmots, chakor, ram chakor and golden eagles. However, many of these species face threats from illegal hunting, wildlife mismanagement and climate change.