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NAMIBIA IS PUTTING 170 live elephants up for sale to curb rising tusker populations under pressure from drought and territorial conflict with humans.
An advertisement for the sale of 170 “high value” elephants was carried on Wednesday by a state-owned daily newspaper, New Era.
The ministry says the elephants are being sold “due to drought and increase in elephant numbers coupled with human-elephant conflict incidences”.
The sparsely-populated semi-arid southern African country is home to some 28,000 elephants, according to official estimates.
Environment Minister Pohamba Shifeta told AFP that the government backed the policy of selling live animals after being criticised for shooting elephants to control overpopulation.
“We decided – after research – to sell them instead,” he said.
The elephant population had dwindled to about 5,000 animals at independence in 1990, but increased phenomenally thanks to a globally-lauded conservation programme.
The advertisement said pachyderms on sale would comprise entire herds in order to preserve the important social structure in elephant communities — infants or juveniles will not be left behind.
Shifeta warned that Namibia would not recklessly sell the elephants to buyers, saying “we have to make sure that the country is conducive.”
For export purposes, the buyers must ensure that CITES requirements are met by both exporting and importing states for the trade to be authorised, according to the notice.
In October, 100 wild buffalo went up for sale in Namibia.
Last year the government offered for sale around 1,000 animals including 600 buffalo, 150 springboks, 60 giraffes and 28 elephants.
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The elephants will never forget this.
@RogersRabbit: nice one
I’ll take two. Young lad loves them
@Lorrimore: just asked the husband for one for Christmas, he said the post and packaging would be a fortune, and he would probably break the trampoline and my tiny garden isnt really African plains ish, I’m just getting a bike instead.
@Jeni Moriarty: I bet of he went on the trampoline, he would become out of it worse. Lethal things
Massive increase in their population. You’ve got to admire the progress they’ve made in a relatively short space of time.
Can they not put them in the wild life parks and keep them safe , remember we have been building on their lands and poaching them for decades, Just for once give wild life a break and let them grow
I’ll keep an eye out for them on ebay. The office kris kindle won’t see this coming
@JMcB: Ebay probably your best bet. Not indigenous to the Amazon.
Please folks like dogs elephants are not just for Christmas.
So, the next time somebody mentions ‘The elephant in the room’, there really is likely to be an ‘ elephant in the room’ . :)
We’ll take one in Dingle, unfortunately there’s a recent job after becoming available. An elephant might fit the role. Any chance of a CV. Some slight adjustment to the job description may be needed.
What’s the going rate for an elephant these days…I checked Dunnes and tesco to compare prices …
@Aurelio Na Fodhla: I heard that you can pay through the nose for them ;)
@Mark Malone: that’s a trunk-ated version of the elephant story.
I really hope they are not sold to countries who do not enforce the cites rules.. and only sold to places who will care for them.. protected freedom..
Anyone buying an elephant must remember, you can’t furlough them!
Don’t tell Bart…
Adolf Hitler getting rid of elephants now
Can you imagine taking your pet elephant for a walk in the park. Bring a turf bag and a shovel for those calls of nature.
@Ross O’Donnell: Leave it there, it will be mistaken for a roundabout.
@Ross O’Donnell: Elephants eat their own faeces. Apparently, it’s to squeeze as much nutrients out of it as possible.
i must buy one ,i have never shot an elephant,nor will i ever but look it up and see who has.
I hope they don’t get abandoned after Christmas.
@John Sleator: An elephant is for life, not just for Christmas. :)
Dont think there would have been much uptake if the ‘Sold them dead’
@Gavin Linden: Even if they still had their tusks?
Have they any white ones cosI know a man who’ll buy them
have your say