Wildlife ranching in spotlight

The Wanderers Sport Club played host to the Wildlife Ranching Namibia's (WRN) third annual general meeting (AGM) recently, bringing together the majority of wildlife ranchers from across all corners of the country.

Attendees were particularly excited to listen to guest speaker Wiaan van der Linde, the former president of Wildlife Ranching South Africa and a renowned game rancher in his own right, as the founder of Wintershoek Wild. His address to members focused on managing contemporary trends affecting the wildlife ranching industry, as well as farming with disease-free buffalo. “Disease-free buffalo are tested extensively and I believe that the risks of buffalo breeding in Namibia pose a lower risk than in South Africa,” Van de Linde said. He further called for unity and encouraged a common vision amongst local stakeholders, stating that “anything we do should enhance brand Namibia”. WRN, in partnership with environment minister Pohamba Shifeta as patron, strives to develop all four pillars of the industry, therefore a new structure was proposed to accommodate the growing needs of members, namely breeding, game meat and products, ecotourism and hunting. Along with the executive committee, eight new council members were elected to manage the aforementioned portfolios. The exco members are as follows Mike Bredenkamp, as president, Alex Oelofse as vice-president, Leevi Hungamo also as vice-president, Zelda Von Schauroth as treasurer, Kavena Hambira as executive advisor and Stephanie Venter as secretary. Other pertinent matters discussed at the AGM pertained to the draft wildlife management bill, game counts, fence inspections, wildlife auctions, industry research, transformation and the ministry's automated permit system.

WRN is conducting a comprehensive survey amongst game ranchers and hopes to have the survey report and summary soon.

STAFF REPORTER