Gilgit-Baltistan to auction 117 trophy hunting permits

Gilgit-Baltistan's Parks and Wildlife Department is preparing to auction 117 trophy hunting permits for the 2026-27 season, targeting markhor, blue sheep, and Himalayan ibex. This initiative is part of the region's ongoing trophy hunting program, designed to generate revenue while managing wildlife populations.

The auction, scheduled for September 10 in Gilgit, will feature permits with significant base rates. The highest price is set for the Astore markhor, with a base rate of $200,000 per permit. Permits for blue sheep will have a base rate of $25,000, and for Himalayan ibex, the rate is set at $11,000. Out of the quota for four Astore markhors, three new permits will be auctioned, as one permit was carried over from the previous season.

Trophy hunting activities are slated to take place from October 15 to April 10, 2027, strictly within designated conservation areas, adhering to the GB Trophy Hunting Guidelines 2019. The quota for these hunts is determined annually based on surveys conducted by wildlife experts.

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Last year, Rs350 million was collected from the auctioned permits against a target of Rs550m.

Last year's trophy hunting program saw Rs350 million collected against a target of Rs550 million. GB Chief Conservator Parks and Wildlife Zakir Hussain noted that permits for two Astore markhors, five blue sheep, and 10 Himalayan ibexes went unused in the 2025-26 season, resulting in a financial loss of Rs200 million. Hussain attributed the cancellations to the law and order situation following violent protests in Gilgit and Skardu, which deterred foreign hunters.

Despite the conservation and revenue-generating aims, the program faces opposition from business owners and tour operators. They argue that recent permit rate hikes, exceeding 300% over two years without adequate stakeholder consultation, have harmed their businesses and the local communities dependent on trophy-hunting revenue. Ikram Beg, a hunting equipment seller, expressed concern that the Wildlife Department's pricing strategy is challenging the program's sustainability.

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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.