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Namibia auctions its wildlife to raise funds

WINDHOEK: A South African farmer paid 4 million rands ($527,000) for eight Namibian black rhinos on Friday, as Namibia auctioned five species of rare animals and raised 19 million rands ($2.5 million) in less than an hour.

The government holds such auctions every two years to raise funds that are then used in conserving and managing protected areas, and says this has contributed immensely to improving wildlife populations.

“Our wildlife are proudly making a contribution to wildlife sectors in South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, the U.S., Nigeria and other countries as Namibia has become a major player in the wildlife industry, not only through auctions like this, but through targeted donations to sister countries to help revive dwindling populations,” said a Ministry of Environment and Tourism official.

The sparsely populated African nation is known for its stunning desert scenes and well-managed game reserves teeming with wildlife. Conservation efforts have led to a dramatic increase in populations of lions, cheetahs, elephants and rhinos.

The South African farmer, identified as J. Hartzenberg, topped other bidders at the auction held at a hotel. He paid an average of R500,000 or $67,000 for each of the five female and three male black rhinos that were on offer.

South African game farmer Peit Haasbroek paid 7 million rands ($926,000) for 27 buffalo that were auctioned. The owner ofa hunting farm, he now has 70 buffaloes.

The rhinos and the buffaloes were sold to foreign buyers in what the official said was a move aimed at helping managing the two species’ population.

Ninety black-faced impalas, 16 sable antelope and 21 giraffes also were made available to buyers in Namibia to boost local breeding stock.

The official said the government planned to make available zebras, springbok, oryx and eland to black farmers who have been resettled on former white-owned farms. This is as a part of a land redistribution programme through a Wildlife Breeding Stock Loan Scheme.

The money raised at this year’s auction, which is more than the $1 million raised in 2006, would be deposited into the Game Products Trust Fund. — AP

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