Pakistani Sheep Hunts- Ibex, Markhor, Blue Sheep, etc.

[BJL]

http://pakistanguides.com/hunting/photo ... /index.htm

Note the second picture- the horns have penetrated its jaw!

Others, including an introduction by the Pakistani guide can be found here:

http://www.pakguns.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=1398

Those are some magnificent animals.

Here's some more info, from http://www.wildlifeofpakistan.com/ungulates_gs.html :
The Markhor is a highly-valued trophy species. A single trophy license is sold for as much as $18, 000. Recently, the Pakistani Government has started issuing 2-3 licenses each year for trophy hunting. Money from this trophy hunting goes for the welfare of the local community. Despite this illegal hunting goes unchecked. The decade long war and civil war in Afghanistan has resulted in the influx of sophisticated weapons in Pakistan. Abundance of weapons available under these circumstances has led to many populations being hunted to extinction or near extinction. Because the cliffs the species inhabits are scattered throughout its range, the Markhor has probably always had a discontinuous distribution. As populations are exterminated or severely reduced by man, there is little chance of these areas being recolonised by other Markhor. The populations become ever more scattered and diminished. In parts of their range the Markhor also face competition from domestic goats and other livestock for limited food supplies. Much of the region where they live has been degraded by overgrazing, leading to a serious risk of erosion. There is also the possibility that the Markhor will hybridise with feral goats, leading to dilution of stock and the loss of pure-bred populations of the species.

[timmy]

BJL, very impressive indeed! Thanks for sharing, as well as the educational "sheep" link.

Let us hope that despite human activities, these Markhor will be able to maintain a viable population.

[BJL]

I'd love to be able to see those magnificent animals in their habitat. The trek to those desolate peaks would be well worth it. I can see why someone would want a such an elusive trophy, and perhaps they are being able to conserve them because of the money brought in by that hefty price tag- but it would be wonderful to see them conserved without them being hunted. But that's the double edge of hunting revenue based conservation.

[Risala]

The Pakguns.com sight is intresting ....very liberal laws wrt gun ownership and hunting....some of the collections are just amazing....thanks for sharing

[happyhunter]

Mouthwatering indeed.
Wish I were there..... ....hh

[Matchlock71]

Happyhunter, Markhor are also found in your part of India, isn't it?

[BJL]

I think they are more towards Northern Pakistan