Namibia is reportedly selling 1,000 wild animals from its national parks as the southwestern African country continues to struggle with drought.
The African nation’s government is hoping that game farmers will buy the animals, despite the fact that the farmers raise animals for hunting.
“Given that this is a dry year, the ministry would like to sell various types of game species from various protected areas to preserve grazing, and to generate much-needed funds for parks and wildlife management,” said Mr. Muyunda.
Namibia also plans to sell 65 oryx, 28 elephants and 20 impala, as well as 35 eland, 16 wildebeest, 60 giraffes and 16 kudus.
Officials hope to raise $1.1m from the sale.
The proceeds will go towards the government’s Game Products Trust Fund, which will support conservation efforts.
Stanley Simataa, Namibia’s Information Minister, said the environment ministry suggested the sale to reduce the amount of wildlife in the parks, which were struggling with the drought.
Namibia’s current drought is the second in three years and is so severe that Hage Geingob, the country’s president, declared a state of emergency in May 2019.
Officials said the national parks were unable to provide adequate feeding conditions for animals.
“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,” said Romeo Muyunda, according to AFP.
Mr. Simataa said that an anywhere between an additional 500 and 600 buffaloes would also be sold from Waterberg Plateau Park and 150 springbok would be sold from the Hardap and Naute game parks, according to The Namibian.
