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Pakistan Conducts First-Ever Himalayan Goral Trophy Hunt to Boost Conservation Efforts

By Zahid Shah

PESHAWAR: Pakistan marked a conservation milestone with the successful completion of the first regulated, non-exportable trophy hunt of a Himalayan Goral in the Hassanzai area of District Torghar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The historic hunt involved a U.S. national, Deron James Millan, and officially launched the Himalayan Goral Trophy Hunting Initiative 2025–26 under the policy guidance of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Wildlife and Biodiversity Board.

The initiative represents a pioneering approach to wildlife management, combining scientific population assessments, strict off-take limits, and evidence-based conservation measures. Designed not only as a regulated sporting activity, the program aims to transform vulnerable wildlife species into valued community assets while promoting ethical and sustainable use.

Eighty percent of the revenue generated from the hunt will be deposited into the local Conservation Committee’s joint account, funding habitat protection, anti-poaching operations, community monitoring, and livelihood enhancement. This ensures local communities are active stakeholders in protecting rare and sensitive species such as the Himalayan Goral.

Officials say the program sets a model for data-driven wildlife governance, fostering coexistence between people and wildlife, reducing illegal hunting, and aligning economic incentives with conservation outcomes.

Latif Ur Rehman, spokesperson for the KP Climate Change, Forest, Environment & Wildlife Department, described the hunt as a new chapter in the province’s wildlife stewardship.