GILGIT: A Canadian citizen on Friday bow hunted a Himalayan ibex in Hunza, thus becoming the first such hunter in the history of Gilgit-Baltistan.

GB wildlife department secretary Sajjad Haider told Dawn that Canadian citizen named Cameron Farace, an expert in bow-hunting, had arrived in Gilgit recently. He said the department had issued him a permit worth 3,500 US dollars.

The foreigner bow hunted Himalayan ibex in Khunjerab area of upper Hunza.

The wildlife official said the hunted Ibex’s horn measured 38 inches, adding the hunter targeted the ibex from a distance of 100 metres.

The hunter was accompanied by a local guide and assistant.

Usually, the official said foreign and local hunters came to GB for gun hunting the ibex in the hunting season.

Hunting ibex through bow will help preserve environment and wildlife in the region, the official said and added that the wildlife department encouraged bow hunting.

He said hunt through guns not only created environmental pollution but also caused dangers to other species living in the area. When gun shots are fired animals run in fear, often ending up falling from mountains, he explained.—Correspondent