According official estimates, Namibia is home to some 28,000 elephants
WINDHOEK, Dec 4 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Namibia is to sell 170 elephants amid pressure from drought and territorial conflict with humans.
The Pachyderms on sale would comprise entire herds in order to preserve the important social structure in elephant communities.
The ministry says the elephants are being sold “due to drought and increase in elephant numbers coupled with human-elephant conflict incidences.”
For export purposes, the buyers must ensure that CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) requirements are met by both exporting and importing states for the trade to be authorised,
The sparsely-populated semi-arid southern African country has been criticized of recent for shooting elephants to control overpopulation.
According to official estimates, Namibia is home to some 28,000 elephants.
Last year the government offered for sale around 1,000 animals including 600 buffalo, 150 springboks, 60 giraffes and 28 elephants. — NNN-AGENCIES
