evidence: · Three found guilty, sentenced to two years in prison, ordered to pay compensation of US$ 136,000 · Gilgit-Baltistan, Government of Pakistan’s Northernmost Territory, arrests and prosecutes suspects · Markhor horns, meat and skin among confiscated items [...] Gilgit, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan (January 8, 2018) The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) applauds the Government of Gilgit-Balitistan (GB) for the expeditious arrest and sentencing of markhor poachers in Astore District of the GB. Further, the penalties are of a severity that meets the seriousness of the offense, and are sure to send a message that will deter others from considering similar pilfering of Pakistan’s unique natural resources. On December 28, 2017 at 3:00PM, Gilgit-Baltistan Parks and Wildlife Department and Community Wildlife Rangers of Bunji arrested three suspects for poaching markhors. The poachers were apprehended in the Bunji Conservancy of Astore District during the joint winter wildlife surveys conducted by the Parks and Wildlife Department, Bunji Conservation Committee and the WCS-Pakistan Program.