Namibian elephants sold for a song
57 elephants sold for N$6 million
Government has defended auctioning off elephants for as little as N$75 000 to private individuals, who are expected to make millions from further selling on their bargain buys.
While neighbouring Zimbabwe sold its cheapest elephants at a 2019 auction for N$2 million, Namibia sold its cheapest for N$75 000 at a recent controversial auction - to a buyer who was never made public.
Farmer Gerrie Odendaal paid the highest price per head, a paltry N$150 000, which is still a far cry from the N$633 000 paid for the most expensive elephant at the Zimbabwean auction. That country was trying to reduce its elephant pollution from 85 000 to 55 000 three years ago.
The Namibian government is expected to make a mere N$6 million from the auction, with the environment ministry saying it did not seek to make a profit from the process.
Using the Zimbabwean benchmark from 2019, Namibia could have made up to N$114 million, using the lowest price paid to Harare. Elephant prices are determined mainly by their age.
Odendaal has already sold his elephants to Dubai and is expected to have made gigantic profits from the sale.
In total, the Namibian government intends to auction 170 elephants. The environment ministry rejected claims that the funds generated from the 57 elephants sold so far are tainted by corruption and will be pocketed by individuals.
Environment ministry executive director Teofilus Nghitila said the auction process was done in a fully open and transparent manner.
He explained that the ministry in December 2020 took the decision to put 170 elephants up for auction to relieve the pressure from human-elephant conflict on communities in the four hotspot areas of Omatjette, Kamanjab, Grootfontein-Kavango Cattle Ranch and Grootfontein-Tsumkwe.
Nghitila said the auction was undertaken through a public tender advertised in national media to ensure fair and equal opportunity for interested parties.
“Ample time was given, as per procurement requirements, for bidders to prepare and submit their bids.”
Just complying
While periodic updates on the process were provided as far as was legally possible, Nghitila said the tender processes however have limitations as to what details can be put in the public domain at certain stages.
“This should not be construed as the ministry being secretive, but is simply out of compliance with procurement-related procedures and processes.”
The money raised through the auction has been deposited directly to the account of the Game Product Trust Fund, and is set to be utilised for the conservation of wildlife and particularly for the management of human-wildlife conflict. The accounts of the Game Product Trust Fund are audited by independent auditors each year.
Nghitila said the 57 elephants sold were all to Namibian entities, who by virtue of being the successful bidder, became the legal owners of those elephants.
“Once the successful bidders have ownership of the elephants, they are within their rights to utilise them in any way, provided it is within the confines of our domestic and international laws.”
The 22 elephants that were sold to Odendaal were captured from 3 to 5 September 2021 from the Kamanjab commercial farming area in the Kunene Region.
They were then captured again on 5 March and exported to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The elephants arrived in the UAE on 6 March and are reported to be doing well, Nghitila said.
“I wish to clarify in this case that the export of these elephants was a private transaction between the private owner of the elephants and their clients in the UAE. The ministry had no stake in this transaction apart from providing the necessary permits as were applied for by the owner.”
Not taken lightly
These 22 elephants generated N$3.3 million, with an average price of N$150 000 per animal.
The 15 elephants bought by Naankuse were captured from 31 August to 1 September 2021 in the Khorixas area, and were part of the Omatjette population. This generated N$1.125 million, with an average price of N$75 000 per elephant.
The 20 remaining elephants will be supplied once necessary permits have been acquired, the sales agreements are signed and funds are paid.
This will generate revenue of N$1.5 million, with an average price of N$75 000 per elephant. All of the above-mentioned amounts do not include any costs related to capture, translocation or care of the elephants. The buyers are responsible for all of these costs.
Nghitila said the decision to auction these elephants was not taken lightly, but is a decision that is fully in line with national laws and policies and various international agreements to which Namibia is party.
He added that that they are also confident that it will not jeopardise the overall population and health of elephants in the country, which currently stands at 24 091. There are an estimated 1 172 elephants in the north-west.
No laws broken
Meanwhile, the Namibia Professional Hunting Association (Napha) said no national or international laws, including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), were broken by the export of these elephants.
“Namibia has a CITES approved export quota; that cannot simply be abolished because some people feel offended that they were not asked about their opinion or did not provide viable alternatives.”
Napha, however, stressed that it is not condoning that wild elephants end up in captivity, whether in Namibia or elsewhere, but said it is acutely aware of the elephant problem in Namibia.
Farmer Gerrie Odendaal paid the highest price per head, a paltry N$150 000, which is still a far cry from the N$633 000 paid for the most expensive elephant at the Zimbabwean auction. That country was trying to reduce its elephant pollution from 85 000 to 55 000 three years ago.
The Namibian government is expected to make a mere N$6 million from the auction, with the environment ministry saying it did not seek to make a profit from the process.
Using the Zimbabwean benchmark from 2019, Namibia could have made up to N$114 million, using the lowest price paid to Harare. Elephant prices are determined mainly by their age.
Odendaal has already sold his elephants to Dubai and is expected to have made gigantic profits from the sale.
In total, the Namibian government intends to auction 170 elephants. The environment ministry rejected claims that the funds generated from the 57 elephants sold so far are tainted by corruption and will be pocketed by individuals.
Environment ministry executive director Teofilus Nghitila said the auction process was done in a fully open and transparent manner.
He explained that the ministry in December 2020 took the decision to put 170 elephants up for auction to relieve the pressure from human-elephant conflict on communities in the four hotspot areas of Omatjette, Kamanjab, Grootfontein-Kavango Cattle Ranch and Grootfontein-Tsumkwe.
Nghitila said the auction was undertaken through a public tender advertised in national media to ensure fair and equal opportunity for interested parties.
“Ample time was given, as per procurement requirements, for bidders to prepare and submit their bids.”
Just complying
While periodic updates on the process were provided as far as was legally possible, Nghitila said the tender processes however have limitations as to what details can be put in the public domain at certain stages.
“This should not be construed as the ministry being secretive, but is simply out of compliance with procurement-related procedures and processes.”
The money raised through the auction has been deposited directly to the account of the Game Product Trust Fund, and is set to be utilised for the conservation of wildlife and particularly for the management of human-wildlife conflict. The accounts of the Game Product Trust Fund are audited by independent auditors each year.
Nghitila said the 57 elephants sold were all to Namibian entities, who by virtue of being the successful bidder, became the legal owners of those elephants.
“Once the successful bidders have ownership of the elephants, they are within their rights to utilise them in any way, provided it is within the confines of our domestic and international laws.”
The 22 elephants that were sold to Odendaal were captured from 3 to 5 September 2021 from the Kamanjab commercial farming area in the Kunene Region.
They were then captured again on 5 March and exported to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The elephants arrived in the UAE on 6 March and are reported to be doing well, Nghitila said.
“I wish to clarify in this case that the export of these elephants was a private transaction between the private owner of the elephants and their clients in the UAE. The ministry had no stake in this transaction apart from providing the necessary permits as were applied for by the owner.”
Not taken lightly
These 22 elephants generated N$3.3 million, with an average price of N$150 000 per animal.
The 15 elephants bought by Naankuse were captured from 31 August to 1 September 2021 in the Khorixas area, and were part of the Omatjette population. This generated N$1.125 million, with an average price of N$75 000 per elephant.
The 20 remaining elephants will be supplied once necessary permits have been acquired, the sales agreements are signed and funds are paid.
This will generate revenue of N$1.5 million, with an average price of N$75 000 per elephant. All of the above-mentioned amounts do not include any costs related to capture, translocation or care of the elephants. The buyers are responsible for all of these costs.
Nghitila said the decision to auction these elephants was not taken lightly, but is a decision that is fully in line with national laws and policies and various international agreements to which Namibia is party.
He added that that they are also confident that it will not jeopardise the overall population and health of elephants in the country, which currently stands at 24 091. There are an estimated 1 172 elephants in the north-west.
No laws broken
Meanwhile, the Namibia Professional Hunting Association (Napha) said no national or international laws, including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), were broken by the export of these elephants.
“Namibia has a CITES approved export quota; that cannot simply be abolished because some people feel offended that they were not asked about their opinion or did not provide viable alternatives.”
Napha, however, stressed that it is not condoning that wild elephants end up in captivity, whether in Namibia or elsewhere, but said it is acutely aware of the elephant problem in Namibia.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article