Early Humans Hunting
The northern areas of Pakistan contain the highest concentration of peaks and longest glaciers outside the polar region. 3 Here is where most mountain worldâ chains collide Karakorams, Hindu Kush and the Himalayas. Emanating from these rugged mountains flow rivers, their tributaries and melted glacial water thus creating inhabitance a rich source for some of the worldâ's rarest wildlife species the Astor, Pir Panjal markhor, Laddakh Urial, Himalayan blue sheep and Ibex.
Heavy poaching by locals as well as outsiders had led to an alarming decline in population of these important species until local NGOs and Foreign came to their rescue and initiated a program for the sustainable trophy hunting of game species and their use. The importance of perpetuating the population level Markhor community and the local inhabitants direct involvement through interest in conservation has been successful in achieving this goal. The social benefits obtained through income generation from hunting
The license rights has played a decisive role in the success of conservation. Those
The communities that previously did not have the resources to implement the education, health and other social activities were now able to undertake these projects.
Hunting A "markhor" as it has been for many was one of my great desires. I was able to accomplish this exercise and sleep with the help of my Renaud du Lou Desgrees friend happened to know Anchan Ali Mirza of Karakroams – Pakistan and were able to organize a successful hunt for me in the Karakorams – Pakistan. Although there was an option of either hunting the population of northern markhor I opted for the Astor since not many hunters I've known had ventured in the heart of the Karakorams fort where this animal survived.
We flew to Islamabad, where they were quickly controlled by customs and then embarked on a long trip on the A-Karakoram Highway. "Driving on the Karakoram Highway is a journey in itself, is once in a lifetime adventure with breath taking views of Nanga Parbat, the second highest peak in Pakistan (8125 meters). Today Silk is in all world's markets. Travels easily and cheap transport of goods by sea and air. This was not always so. The early trade of silk was carried out against all odds of the great caravans of merchants and animals traveling at a snail pace on some of the most inhospitable territory on the face of the earth, scorching, waterless deserts and mountains of snow happens. It is through this a "Silk Road" that agents of the ancient silk Kasghar carried on the Taklamakan Desert and the Karakoram Highway India.
Our first stop was the bustling town of Gilgit, we continued driving further up the valley of Bunji. The inhabitants of Bunji expected a first foreign hunter. It was the first year that their community was in operation and all were hoping and praying for a successful hunt, as this would mean foreign foreign to their development plans. He advised me that our friend Anchan Ali Mirza, a son of the land for hunting markhor Astor pioneer in this virgin land. It was an area new and a test case for everyone. We crossed the great river "Indusa" in a local traditional raft known as "Zakho. This form of transport in rivers is even used today. Early in the fleet of a "Zakho" were made of goat skin but now days a more modern form of pneumatic tube being used. While a securely to the cross but a hair raising experience.
It is a traditional belief that a good male male has 19 times the wisdom of a human being and therefore had to show some great strength, intelligence, courage and patience in the coming days. The hike in the rugged mountains of the Karakorams is challenging and demanding, and only the souls with the spirit of adventure is likely to succeed. At some points are used safety ropes for crossing ravines and waterfalls. Fortunately we spotted a good male buck from a distance in the first of our arrival and could take a picture with success. It was not until the next morning we went capable of bringing down the animal due to poor visibility. As a result there was a mature male of about 34 inches, though we expected a larger trophy. After all hours of continuous driving and walking hard I could not have been happier man. Between them there was a great sense of pride and accomplishment.
Then headed towards our next goal was the Himalayan Ibex, near the town of Skardu. Interestingly, when we come to this area we were surprised to see a few trophies markhor exceptional size Astor. . Anchan Ali Mirza had already taken a hunter earlier Hungarian and therefore it was not possible to markhor hunting license again as only were used. The Himalayan Ibex survive here in good numbers and we have succeeded in bagging a deer 40Â male. "They told me that if you were to drive in forward more in the deep valleys of the Karakorams is a very strong population of Himalayan Ibex. But by the time I thought these 2 trophies enough. I've been lucky enough to hunt successfully in a trip that normally would have been a few days. He wanted to have the pleasure of flying back from Skardu, but the UN favorable climatic conditions do not permit us and so we rushed him back to Islamabad. We said goodbye and returned.
IGNACIO RUIZ GALLARDÓN
Karakoram Treks & Tours, Pakistan's oldest trekking, company. Offers trekking expedition to K2, Broad Peak, Nanga Parbat, Himalaya, Mir Tirich, Gasherbrum, adventure, G2, Spantik, Trango Tower, Diran.
We also provide Hotel services in these regions.
About The Author
Anchan Ali Mirza
KARAKORAM TREKS & TOURS
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Early test phase of my deer hunting airgun