GILGIT: The Parks and Wildlife Department of Gilgit-Baltistan is set to auction hunting permits for three Astore markhors, 14 blue sheep and 100 Himalayan ibexes under the region’s Trophy Hunting Programme for the 2026-27 season. The base price for an Astore markhor permit has been fixed at $200,000, making it the most expensive permit on offer. The minimum price for a blue sheep permit has been set at $25,000, while permits for Himalayan ibex will start at $11,000. According to the auction notice, four Astore markhors are included in the exportable quota. However, one permit from the previous hunting season has been carried forward, leaving three fresh permits to be auctioned this year. The open auction will take place on September 10 at the Forest Complex in Jutial, Gilgit. The trophy hunting season will begin on October 15, 2026, and continue until April 10, 2027, in accordance with the GB Trophy Hunting Guidelines 2019. Hunting will be permitted only within officially designated conservation areas. The department said the annual hunting quota has been determined following wildlife population surveys conducted by experts. GB Chief Conservator Parks and Wildlife Zakir Hussain said that the department collected approximately Rs350 million through permit auctions last year against a target of Rs550 million. He said several permits remained unused during the 2025-26 season, including those for two Astore markhors, five blue sheep and 10 exportable Himalayan ibexes. The unused permits resulted in an estimated revenue loss of around Rs200 million. According to officials, the cancellation of hunting plans by American and other international hunters was linked to the law-and-order situation following violent protests in Gilgit and Skardu. Local business owners and tourism operators have expressed concern over repeated increases in trophy hunting permit prices. They argue that higher baseline rates have discouraged foreign hunters and negatively affected businesses connected with hunting tourism. Ikram Beg, a local business owner who sells hunting equipment, said the trophy hunting programme was facing significant challenges. He claimed that the Wildlife Department had increased baseline prices by more than 300 per cent over the past two years without adequately incorporating recommendations from major stakeholders. According to Beg, excessive price increases could make Gilgit-Baltistan less competitive in the international trophy hunting market. He warned that declining international participation could reduce government and community revenues while weakening incentives for local residents to participate in wildlife conservation. Beg stressed that trophy hunting should primarily serve as a conservation mechanism rather than simply becoming a source of increased government revenue. He said the programme’s long-term success depends on reasonable pricing, international participation, transparent administration and meaningful financial benefits for local communities. Local stakeholders have called for a review of the permit rates and greater consultation with communities, conservation specialists and industry representatives. They have also demanded transparency and strict adherence to applicable rules and regulations. Although trophy hunting remains controversial internationally, its supporters argue that regulated hunting can generate funds for conservation, discourage illegal hunting and provide financial benefits to communities living near wildlife habitats. In Gilgit-Baltistan, the programme began with community participation in Bar Valley, Nagar, in 1990. Under the existing revenue-sharing model, approximately 80 per cent of licence revenue goes to local communitiesfor wildlife protection and conservation activities. The region’s challenging terrain and harsh weather also make trophy hunting highly demanding. Hunters must navigate steep and rugged mountain slopes while dealing with extremely cold conditions. Gilgit-Baltistan is home to diverse wildlife because of its varied ecosystems and climate. Species found in the region include Marco Polo sheep, ibex, markhor, urial, blue sheep, lynx, snow leopards, brown and black bears, wolves, foxes and golden eagles. However, wildlife experts and conservationists continue to face concerns over illegal hunting, inadequate wildlife management and the effects of climate change, all of which pose long-term threats to the region’s biodiversity.
