PESHAWAR, Dec 16 (APP): The US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) has recognized and rewarded Pakistan’s world-class Markhor Conservation program by issuing the first Markhor Sports Hunting Trophy import permit in 15 years.
The permit was received by Conservation Force which handled it, said a press released issued here on Sunday by Anchan Ali Mirza, Managing Director of Karakurum Treks & Tours who is associated with this project.
The first trophy will be received in US by hunter, Wayne Lau, who took the male flare-horned Markhor from Gaharet Markhor Conservancy in Chitral district of North West Frontier Province (NWFP) in March 2006.
Gaharet conservancy is part of the Mountain Areas Conservation Program (MACP), aims to protect the rich biological heritage of the Karakuram, Hindukush and the Western Himalayan Mountain Ranges through a community based conservation approach.
Dr. Mohammad Mumtaz Malik, Chief Conservator of the NWFP Wildlife Department, Dr. Mumtaz Malik when contact expressed contentment over the development. We are exceptionally pleased that US authorities have recognized the success of our programs in bringing back a highly endangered species from the brink of extinction, remarked Mumtaz Malik.
The development which will strengthen Pakistan’s trophy hunting programme and conservation efforts, he added.
Dr. Richard Garstang, WWF-P’s Conservation Advisor and National Programme Manager of the Pakistan Wetlands Programme explains, Participation by international sports hunters is vital to the success of this innovative conservation initiative. I hope that this leads to a greater level of participation in Pakistan’s officially sanctioned hunting programme’s by members of the international sports hunting community.
The flare-horned markhor trophy is the first markhor of any kind to be imported in to the United States since all markhor were listed on Appendix I of CITIES at COP8 in Kyoto, Japan in 1992, 15 years ago.
It is also the first new US import of any game trophy listed on Appendix I of CITIES since 1996 when the USFWS began permitting import of Botswana elephant hunting trophies 11 years ago.
The real beneficiaries of the USFWS permit are the markhor themselves as well as the local Gaharet communities who will ultimately determine the fate of the markhor.
Credit is due to the Pakistan government and its Wildlife Departments for their support for the conservation program. Credit is also due to the US Fish & Wildlife Service for their wisdom in granting the permit. In effect, they are rewarding all those instrumental in conserving the markhor, and for setting a positive example for others, concludes the press release.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment