Namibia to sell 170 wild elephants because ‘they threaten humans’

Animals will be sold to highest bidder amid long-running drought in country

Namibia says elephant-human conflict increasing (Reuters)

Namibia is auctioning 170 wild elephants due to increasing conflicts with humans and a long-running drought in southern Africa, the country’s environment ministry has said.  

The “high value” elephants will be sold to anyone in Namibia or abroad who can meet the criteria for doing so, which includes quarantine facilities and a game-proof fence certificate for the property where they are held.

Foreign buyers, who were invited to bid in an advert carried by the state-owned daily New Era on Wednesday, must also provide proof that they will have permission from conservation authorities in their destination country.

The move comes just months after wildlife authorities there culled at least 10 elephants in a bid to protect farmers and their harvests, which had reportedly been trampled by the animals.

Pohamba Shifeta, the environment minister, told AFP the policy of selling the animals was approved after the country was criticised for controlling the population by shooting them.

Like several other African nations, Namibia is trying to strike a balance between protecting high-value species like elephants and rhinos, while managing the danger they pose when they encroach on areas of human habitation.  

(The Independent)

The Independent is working with conservation charity Space for Giants to protect wildlife at risk from poachers due to the conservation funding crisis caused by Covid-19. The Stop the Illegal Wildlife Trade campaign seeks to support rangers, local communities and law enforcement personnel to prevent wildlife crime.

Namibia's conservation drive, which has seen its elephant population jump from around 7,500 in 1995 to 24,000 in 2019 according to government figures, has enjoyed international support.

But last year Namibia said it was considering withdrawing from the rules that govern the global trade in endangered species, which is contained in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites). 

This was after countries voted during a Cites meeting to reject proposals to relax restrictions on hunting and exporting its white rhinos.

The country wants to allow more trophy hunting and the export of live animals, arguing that the funds it would raise would help it to protect the species.

In October it put 70 female and 30 male buffalos from Waterberg Plateau Park in central Namibia up for sale in a bid to ease pressure on grazing land.

The arid southern African nation also auctioned 1,000 animals from national parks, including 500 buffalos in 2019 as it faced the worst drought in a century.

Additional reporting by Reuters