Chitral village bodies to resist trophy hunting

CHITRAL, Dec 31: Four of five village conservation committees (VCCs) of Gahirait conservancy have warned to resist trophy hunting of Kashmir markhor if two watchers of the conservancy are not transferred. 

In a resolution signed by presidents of these committees, including Haider Zaman, Shahzada Saif, Shamsher Dastagir and Amjad Jan, they said that the hunting was likely to be disturbed in the presence of the two officials.

The wildlife department has issued trophy hunting permits in the conservancy, which is said to be the richest in the district for its biodiversity and thick population of markhor.

The resolution alleged that the watchers – Shiekh Islam and Mohammad Ishaq – have strained relations with the community workers who have organised themselves into VCCs. It said that divisional forest officer of wildlife, Chitral, also ignored their requests for transfer the officials. They said that now the VCCs have decided to resist trophy hunting in the area. Courtesy Dawn