SWAT: The first-ever legal hunt of a Kashmiri markhor was conducted in the hilly Mankial forest area of Swat, marking a significant development under Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s regulated trophy hunting programme.

According to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Wildlife Department, 24-year-old national hunter Taha Nasir from Lahore carried out the hunt under a non-exportable permit, in accordance with established rules and wildlife regulations.

Officials said the hunter took the shot from an estimated distance of 365 to 370 meters. The permit for the hunt was valued at PKR 3 million.

The Wildlife Department reported that the markhor’s horns measured 37 inches, and the animal weighed between 100 and 120 kilograms.

Authorities stated that regulated trophy hunting contributes to wildlife conservation by generating revenue for habitat protection and local community development, while also promoting tourism in the region.

Swat’s mountainous terrain is home to several protected species, and wildlife officials said conservation efforts aim to balance ecological sustainability with controlled hunting policies.