Drought-hit Namibia to auction 1,000 wild animals
According to an agriculture ministry report in April, 63,700 animals died in 2018 due to deteriorating grazing conditions caused by dry weather.
The Namibian Government has authorised the sale of around 1,000 wild animals, including elephants and giraffes, amid the recent drought crisis.
Authorities declared a national disaster last month as some meteorological services estimated that some parts of the country suffered the deadliest drought in 90 years.
Environment ministry spokesman Romeo Muyunda is quoted by the Guardian as saying: “Given that this year is a drought year, the ministry would like to sell various type of game species from various protected areas to protect grazing and at the same time to also generate much needed funding for parks and wildlife management.”
He added: “The grazing condition in most of our parks is extremely poor and if we do not reduce the number of animals, this will lead to loss of animals due to starvation.”
According to an agriculture ministry report in April, 63,700 animals died in 2018 due to deteriorating grazing conditions caused by dry weather.
Animals to be sold include 600 disease-free buffalos, 150 springbok, 65 oryx, 60 giraffes, 35 eland, 28 elephants, 20 impala and 16 kudus.
The government is aiming to raise $1.1 million which will go towards a trust fund for wildlife conservation and parks management.
