Naankuse auction elephants doing well

ELLANIE SMIT WINDHOEKThe 15 elephants that were captured by the Naankuse Foundation as part of the environment and tourism ministry’s elephant auction have been translocated to the TimBila Nature Reserve, 50 km east of Omaruru.The ministry this week announced that of the 57 Namibian elephants that were sold at auction, 37 have already been captured. Of those, 22 are to be exported while the other 15 were supplied to Naankuse.According to Naankuse, these 15 elephants were captured in the Khorixas area. It said TimBila is one of its latest projects.“We waited for the ministry to issue a public statement before we publicly announced our successful bid in the auction.“We are pleased that the money paid for the elephants will be going to the Game Products Trust Fund and sincerely hope that these monies will make a difference in the greater good of conservation in Namibia,” the foundation said.According to Naankuse, the 15 elephants are a family group and are doing extremely well.“The group is monitored daily by scientists and is displaying no abnormal behaviour.”Safe havenIt said the TimBila Nature Reserve borders Erindi to the north. It is a 33 000-hectare nature reserve which Naankuse, in partnership with its international partners, converted from an old hunting farm into a safe sanctuary for conflict and problem animals.The reserve is also home to conflict lions from the Huab, Anabeb and Brandberg areas and conflict wild dogs that were successfully rehabilitated.The reserve is fenced with electric fencing and all the animals on the reserve are safe and cannot cause any conflict again.Wildlife on the reserve is utilised for low-impact eco-tourism. It is protected by world-class anti-poaching units and systems.“TimBila epitomises the Naankuse Foundation’s purpose of conserving the landscapes of Namibia, protecting the wildlife, and improving the lives of the people we work with through innovative sustainable commercial activities.” Humane optionNaankuse added that it believes the translocation of problem animals to safe areas and the non-consumptive utilisation of such animals remains a better option than indiscriminate killing, chronic persecution or trophy hunting.“The Naankuse Foundation remains committed to fight for the welfare of wildlife in Namibia.”The ministry expects to generate N$5.9 million from the sale of the elephants, of which N$4.4 million has already been paid into the Game Products Trust Fund.A total of 170 elephants were originally offered in a tender that was advertised at the beginning of December 2020 and closed on 29 January last year.ellanie@namibiansun.com

Naankuse auction elephants doing well

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-01

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Naankuse auction elephants doing well

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-01

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