The North-Eastern part of Pakistan is bounded by the Hindu Kush..........Let us shoot with cameras, not hunting rifles!'

The North-Eastern part of Pakistan is bounded by the Hindu Kush, Himalayan and Karakorum ranges. It is one of the most beautiful places in the world. The Hunza Valley, as it is called, claims to be the Shangrila of James Hilton's novel, The Lost Horizon. In Shangrila people never grew old. They lived in a paradise setting among snow-capped mountains and green valleys.

Not only is this area one of breathtaking beauty but it is home to several endangered species of mountain animals like the Blue Sheep, the Markhor Goat, the Marco Polo Sheep, the Snow Leopard and the Ibex. Among these animals, the Marco Polo Sheep is almost extinct.

The Ibex is one of four species of mountain goats. It belongs to the genus capra. The others are the Rocky Mountain Goat, the Cashmere Goat and the Chamois. The Ibex is found in mountain ranges in parts of Europe, Asia and Africa. Its coat is brown to gray in colour. The male Ibex has a majestic head with heavy horns up to 1.5 metres long. The female has shorter horns. They are surefooted and agile animals. They live in herds and are herbivorous animals.

Hunting for wildlife is a deeply-entrenched tradition in the culture of the Hunza Valley villagers. Animals, especially the Ibex, are hunted for food. One Ibex could feed several families. It is estimated that about 200 Ibexes used to be killed a year for food. This activity placed the Ibex population in danger of extinction.

Anxious to save the Ibex population but not deprive the local inhabitants of a source of food, the government and conservation societies set up the International Trophy Hunting Organization. Hunting and killing of Ibexes by the local population have been prohibited. Only regulated hunting by foreigners is allowed. The organization makes available a strictly limited number of hunting permits for Ibex trophy hunters per year. The cost per trophy is about US$3,500. Successful hunters often donate a few thousand more. The reasoning is that with controlled hunting, only twenty Ibexes are killed in a year.

Almost all the money goes to the Hunza tribes for buying food, developing their farms and improving the facilities of their homeland. For example roads have been built and schools and women's vocational centres have been set up. Because of these benefits, the valley dwellers have so far been co-operative. They are strict about enforcing the law. Gamekeepers patrol the area around the clock to prevent poaching. The penalty for unlawful hunting is severe.

But cynics are questioning the system. How long can it be kept up? When will corruption set in? How damaging is this flow of money into the simple lives of the villagers? Will other endangered animals be included in this scheme? There is already talk of charging US$120,000 per kill for the beautiful and elusive snow leopards.

Voices of protests from the villagers have become strong. Some of them consider their lifestyle and culture to be threatened. Money culture has entered their lives. They cannot accept the reasoning behind sacrificing one Ibex to save ten. To some villagers, the presence of foreign hunters free to take part in a traditional activity now denied them seems disrespectful.

To these villagers, controlled hunting is an unwelcome intrusion in their lives. Tourists themselves have asked, 'Why kill? Isn't it enough to bring visitors to look at these magnificent creatures? Let us shoot with cameras, not hunting rifles!'

Summary: The Ibex is a mountain goat living in certain mountain ranges. In Pakistan's Hunza Valley it is endangered. Inhabitants there traditionally hunt for wildlife as a food source. This activity reduced the Ibex population by 200 a year. An organization was founded to save the animal. Local inhabitants are strictly forbidden from hunting Ibexes. Instead foreigners buy special licences for trophy hunting. This means only 20 Ibexes are killed a year. The money raised goes to the villagers to buy food and improve their livelihood. So far the scheme is working.

However, critics are raising issues like the long-term effects, the money-based activity and the possible inclusion of other endangered species in the scheme. The villagers themselves are unhappy. The arrangement is unfair and disrespectful to them. Foreigners have stolen their old practice in the name of conservation. Other foreigners are also against this licenced-to-kill practice. Photograph and appreciate the animals alive, they say.