Govt sells crocs to control human-wildlife conflict
The environment ministry will be selling 40 crocodiles to minimise human-wildlife conflict.
The crocodiles are all adults and will not be larger than three metres, the ministry announced.
Ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said since 2019, the ministry has paid offset amounts of over N$2.3 million for losses caused by crocodiles.
This includes N$575 000 for 195 cases of livestock loss, N$140 000 for 14 cases of injury to people and over N$1.6 million for human lives lost.
According to him, Namibia has over the years experienced a remarkable recovery of wildlife populations as a result of its good conservation methods.
However, this has resulted in an increase of human-wildlife conflict, as the majority of the country’s wildlife exist outside national parks, he said.
He added that the north-eastern regions of Kavango West, Kavango East and Zambezi continue to experience concerning crocodile attacks on people and their livestock.
Muyunda said the sale of the crocodiles is meant to minimise these incidents and mitigate the impact of crocodile conflicts on communities.
“This is also in line with a recommendation made at a recently ended conference on wildlife conflict management.”
Tender process
The crocodiles will be sold through a tender. Those interested are urged to submit their written financial offers to the ministry by 17 July.
The offers must be in sealed envelopes indicating the price per individual animal. Tender specifications will be advertised in local media, Muyunda said.
He added that those who wish to export the crocodiles must have official proof that the respective conservation authorities of that country will permit them to do so.
Furthermore, the capture of the crocodiles will be done under full supervision of the ministry and the cost of capturing will be on the buyer.
All related activities - including disease testing as well as any necessary after-capture care - are at the buyer's cost. Buyers must also prove that they have suitable habitats for crocodiles.
The crocodiles are all adults and will not be larger than three metres, the ministry announced.
Ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said since 2019, the ministry has paid offset amounts of over N$2.3 million for losses caused by crocodiles.
This includes N$575 000 for 195 cases of livestock loss, N$140 000 for 14 cases of injury to people and over N$1.6 million for human lives lost.
According to him, Namibia has over the years experienced a remarkable recovery of wildlife populations as a result of its good conservation methods.
However, this has resulted in an increase of human-wildlife conflict, as the majority of the country’s wildlife exist outside national parks, he said.
He added that the north-eastern regions of Kavango West, Kavango East and Zambezi continue to experience concerning crocodile attacks on people and their livestock.
Muyunda said the sale of the crocodiles is meant to minimise these incidents and mitigate the impact of crocodile conflicts on communities.
“This is also in line with a recommendation made at a recently ended conference on wildlife conflict management.”
Tender process
The crocodiles will be sold through a tender. Those interested are urged to submit their written financial offers to the ministry by 17 July.
The offers must be in sealed envelopes indicating the price per individual animal. Tender specifications will be advertised in local media, Muyunda said.
He added that those who wish to export the crocodiles must have official proof that the respective conservation authorities of that country will permit them to do so.
Furthermore, the capture of the crocodiles will be done under full supervision of the ministry and the cost of capturing will be on the buyer.
All related activities - including disease testing as well as any necessary after-capture care - are at the buyer's cost. Buyers must also prove that they have suitable habitats for crocodiles.
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