Help Bilal to secure his DPhil at Oxford

Aim

I am the first Pakistani who got an offer for a DPhil in Biology from WildCRU, Oxford. However, I need the required funds to secure a place.

I recently finished my Postgraduate Diploma in International Wildlife Conservation Practice from the University of Oxford where I was selected to form the cohort of eight early-career conservationists from around the world, with a focus on representation from Global South countries where we would otherwise never have such an amazing opportunity as this. I was awarded a distinction upon completing this course, the highest possible grade, despite additional difficulties I encountered in the year through getting stress fractures in both legs. During this life-changing year, I was also fortunate to be elected as a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and the Linnean Society of London. 

During my time in the UK, there was a huge debate going on about a proposed law to ban the import of all kinds of hunted animals in the UK and Europe. But most of the time, the focus for trophy hunting has been put exclusively on Africa. I was fascinated to see that not a single time the perspective from Asia has mentioned. Especially in Pakistan, where community-based trophy hunting has been going on for three decades and has shown remarkable success for nature conservation and local communities. For example, last year a single trophy hunting permit for a single Markhor (a type of mountain goat) was auctioned for a record-breaking USD 186,000, with 80% of the proceeds from all Pakistani trophy hunting going to local communities.

Based on my country’s unique perspective, during my year at Oxford, I was invited by the House of Lords to give a talk about trophy hunting in Pakistan. While doing research for my talk I realised that there is a complete lack of reliable evidence about the economic and ecological impacts of community-based trophy hunting in Pakistan. That led me to apply for a DPhil (PhD) in Biology at the University of Oxford, for which I recently received an offer letter! 

However being from a moderate background, I do not have the required funds to cover my tuition fee which is around £101,000 for three years, and my living expenses which will be around £73,000. That is why I am initiating this fundraiser to raise the required amount. I need at least £55,000 by June to secure my place for this DPhil.

Your pledge will help me to secure the funds to generate evidence-based research to contribute to this ongoing debate. I shall also inspire and mentor other early career conservationists to pursue their education in renowned universities and contribute to the conservation of biodiversity in my beautiful home country of Pakistan.

This project successfully funded on 17th April 2024