GILGIT: The Wildlife and Parks Department of Gilgit-Baltistan has announced the auction of 118 animals for the 2025-26 hunting season. The auction will be held today (Wednesday) in Gilgit.
The animals include four Astore markhors, 100 Himalayan ibex, and 14 blue sheep.
The government has set the base prices at $200,000 for an Astore markhor, $30,000 for blue sheep, and $10,000 for Himalayan ibex for the upcoming hunting season.
Last year, the base rates were lower with $150,000 for markhor, $9,000 for blue sheep, and $5,500 for ibex.
In the 2024-25 season, 118 permits were offered, but only 60 were purchased. The highest bid for a markhor reached $161,000, earning the GB government more than Rs30 million.
Officials say that in other areas like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, prices for Markhor hunting reach $500,000.
However, local organizers and tour operators say the steep increase in fees is hurting their business and alienating foreign customers.
According to them, this is not only hurting the organizers but also the local communities that depend on trophy hunting income.
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