PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Climate Change, Forestry, Environment and Wildlife Department on Monday auctioned four licences for hunting of Kashmir Markhor in Chitral and Kohistan districts with one of them fetching a record $212,000.

A statement issued here said the highest bid was offered by M/S Mehran Safari for $212,000 for single markhor to be hunted in Toshi-I area of Chitral.

`This is the highest rate ever offered in the history of markhor trophy hunting,` the statement said.

The second highest bid was offered by M/S Zoon Safari for $185,000 for a single markhor to be hunted in Toshi-II, Chitral. This was also the second highest rate ever offered in the history of markhor trophy hunting.

The third highest bid was offered by M/S Shikar Safari for $135,900 for a single markhor to be hunted in Keigah area of Kohistan. The fourth highest bid was offered by M/S Hunting Safari for $125,000 for a single markhor to be hunted in Gehrait area of Chitral.

The statement said that 80 per cent of the proceeds from the trophy hunting programme were distributed among the locals for community development and wildlife conservation activities in the respective villages.