Zorena Jantze
TEOFILUS Nghitila, Executive Director of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, has rejected insinuations that the funds generated from the auction of 57 Namibian elephants are tainted by corruption and will be pocketed by individuals.
Nghitila made these remarks at a press conference where the ministry had to answer heated questions on the recent export of 22 Namibian elephants to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the legality of the private transactions and concerns raised on the welfare of these elephants which have allegedly been sold into captivity.
Nghitila stated that the money raised through the auction is deposited directly to the account of the Game Product Trust Fund and is to be utilized for the conservation of Namibia’s wildlife, and particularly for the management of human-wildlife conflict.
The ministry is said to have pocketed some N$5.3 million from the sale of the elephants.
Nghitila stated that the money was deposited into the Game Product Trust fund and will be used for further conservation efforts.
In December 2020, the environment ministry decided to put 170 elephants up for auction to relieve the pressure of human-elephant conflict on communities in the four hotspot areas of Omatjete, Kamanjab, Grootfontein-Kavango Cattle Ranch and Grootfontein-Tsumkwe.
Nghitila said this decision was not taken lightly but is fully in line with national laws, policies and various international agreements to which they are a party.
He further added that the export of these elephants will not jeopardize the overall population and health of elephants in the country at large, which currently stand at 24 091 according to a census done in 2016, while there is an estimated 1 172 elephants in the north-west.
The sale of the Namibian elephants to a non-range land destination in the UAE was also referred to the 74th meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
The 74th CITES meeting will be held from 7 to 11 March in Lyon, France.
Specifically, concerns were raised regarding Namibia’s interpretation of the CITES annotation, and its justification to export live African elephants to non-range States. The issue was discussed by the in-session working group on appropriate and acceptable destinations.
Nghitila was also questioned on why Namibia exported the elephants to a destination outside the natural range of the species, which is considered to be illegal according to CITES provisions.
He defended the sale and export of elephants, saying it was done in accordance with article 3 of CITES, which outlined the process to be followed when selling the animals abroad.
He said the exports of the elephants were also done in consultation with CITES and added that there is no objection from CITES as permits were granted on the transaction.
The Namibian buyer of the 22 elephants exported to Dubai, Gerrie Odendaal, when approached for comment, refused to name the end destinations at which the elephants would be kept but shared that there is nothing fishy about the transaction.
File photo for illustrative purposes.
