Geographical fortune often blesses countries with unique opportunities to strengthen diplomatic relations and generate foreign exchange, as demonstrated by China. The entire global population of giant pandas, a rare and highly coveted bear species, resides within China’s borders. China has been strategically leveraging this fact to its political and economic advantage since the Tang dynasty (618-907 CE), using pandas as diplomatic gifts.
However, since 1984, China has moved beyond gifting and adopted a commercial model where host countries pay one million US dollars per panda annually, plus a “cub tax” of at least $200,000 for any baby pandas born in the host country. These cubs must be returned to China before their fourth birthday. This model has allowed China to gain both diplomatic and economic benefits, with approximately seventy pandas currently residing in twenty-two countries around the world.
In earlier years, China gifted pandas as symbols of friendship and goodwill to key allies like the Soviet Union, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the United States, and the United Kingdom. A famous example of panda diplomacy occurred when Mao Zedong, after President Nixon’s visit to China in 1972, promised to send two pandas to an American zoo, in exchange for two musk oxen as a gift from Nixon to China.
Pakistan, too, is blessed with similar geographical fortune, as the markhor, its national animal, holds the potential for similar diplomatic and economic benefits. Known in English as the “screw-horn” or screw-horned goat, the markhor has long been a national treasure, and now, following the world’s first celebration of ‘International Day of the Markhor’ on May 24, 2024, it is being recognized as a global treasure as well. Markhors present a significant opportunity for Pakistan to bolster its economy and promote sustainable tourism, complementing the government’s ‘Living Indus’ initiative, which is supported by the United Nations.
A UN press release on May 24, 2024, highlighted that Pakistan’s markhor population has been increasing over the past decade, reaching between 3,500 and 5,000 today, thanks to conservation programs and community engagement. However, the global population of mature markhors is still fewer than 6,000 individuals. Romina Khurshid Alam, the Prime Minister’s Coordinator on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, noted that under the current program, only 12 out of the approximately 4,500 markhors in Pakistan’s mountains are selected annually for trophy hunting, and the proceeds from this activity are largely reinvested into their habitats and breeding grounds.
Ghulam Qadir Shah, the Inspector General of Forests, pointed out that the most expensive hunting permit in the past year was sold for USD 186,000, with 20% of the proceeds going to the Wildlife Department and the rest benefiting local communities. Environmental journalist Gentry Hale from Montana remarked that community-managed hunting areas now cover nearly one-third of Gilgit-Baltistan. The markhor has thus become one of the most expensive animals to hunt, with a single permit fetching over USD 135,000, excluding additional costs for travel, outfitting, guiding services, and trophy taxidermy.
While the practice of trophy hunting for conservation purposes faces criticism from the public, there is a growing need to explore alternative ways to capitalize on markhor conservation efforts. Establishing a committee of experts could help identify more sustainable and profitable avenues, drawing lessons from China’s panda policy. Instead of solely auctioning hunting rights, it is time to consider other approaches that could yield greater benefits, such as loaning markhors to wildlife parks around the world as ambassadors of Pakistan.
A structured markhor loan program, like China’s panda diplomacy, could be developed by negotiating with international wildlife parks and zoos. In exchange for financial compensation, Pakistan could arrange long-term loans of markhors, generating foreign exchange while raising global awareness about Pakistan’s conservation efforts. Collaborating with international organizations and conservation groups could also lead to joint research and breeding programs, securing the future of the species and creating financial benefits for Pakistan.
Additionally, Pakistan could promote eco-tourism centered around the Markhor. By creating sustainable tourism packages, including guided tours to markhor habitats, Pakistan could attract wildlife enthusiasts and researchers, generating revenue for local communities while fostering a greater appreciation for the species. Events like markhor viewing festivals and photography contests could draw in tourists and further enhance the markhor’s brand as a symbol of national pride.
Educational and virtual programs could also play a significant role in raising funds and awareness. Virtual reality experiences, documentaries about the markhor’s life and conservation, and live streaming of markhor habitats could reach global audiences, with monetization options such as subscriptions and donations. Interactive learning modules and virtual tours could create engaging ways to inform and involve people worldwide.
By adopting a comprehensive approach that includes international loans, eco-tourism, and digital engagement, Pakistan can transform markhor diplomacy into a symbol of both national pride and economic prosperity, all while ensuring the species’ conservation for future generations. This strategy aligns with the ‘Living Indus’ initiative and opens new paths for sustainable development and international collaboration.
