Six elephants exported to DRC
A family of six elephants was this weekend successfully exported to the Democratic Republic of Congo from the Port of Walvis Bay.
The operation, which lasted over 20 hours, required approximately 50 staff members from various stakeholders.
The elephant family consisted of two adults (a bull and a cow) and four calves.
They were loaded onto the vessel El Nino on Thursday night, destined for a tourism game park in Kinshasa, DRC.
After being loaded onto the vessel, the elephants endured a four-day journey to the DRC.
According to a statement issued by Namport this was the first time a consignment of such magnitude, involving adult elephants, had left the country.
The manager of corporate communication at Namport, Taná Pesat, said it would not be the last consignment of this nature, as it was a trial run to guarantee that future exportations are conducted smoothly.
With regard to the safety of the animals during the transhipment, Dr Ulf Tubbesing of Wildlife Vets Namibia said that a team of experts were involved during the entire process of the transportation of animals and also accompanied the consignment up to time of discharge to ensure that the elephants are well looked after.
Stakeholders involved in the operation included Namport, the home affairs ministry, finance ministry, Honesta Investment 32, Blue Bush Investment trading as Wildlife Vets Namibia, KLD Ship Agency, Walvis Bay Stevedoring, Erindi Game Lodge, Mount Etjo Lodge, El Nino Crew members, Pronto Global Air and Ocean Freight and Camel Transport.
Late last year, a consignment of 205 animals was transported from Walvis Bay to the same game park in Kinshasa.
According to Dr Tubbesing the animals, which were released into strictly non-hunting reserves, are doing well and have reproduced.
Another consignment of elephants is expected to be shipped to DRC in June.
ELLANIE SMIT
The operation, which lasted over 20 hours, required approximately 50 staff members from various stakeholders.
The elephant family consisted of two adults (a bull and a cow) and four calves.
They were loaded onto the vessel El Nino on Thursday night, destined for a tourism game park in Kinshasa, DRC.
After being loaded onto the vessel, the elephants endured a four-day journey to the DRC.
According to a statement issued by Namport this was the first time a consignment of such magnitude, involving adult elephants, had left the country.
The manager of corporate communication at Namport, Taná Pesat, said it would not be the last consignment of this nature, as it was a trial run to guarantee that future exportations are conducted smoothly.
With regard to the safety of the animals during the transhipment, Dr Ulf Tubbesing of Wildlife Vets Namibia said that a team of experts were involved during the entire process of the transportation of animals and also accompanied the consignment up to time of discharge to ensure that the elephants are well looked after.
Stakeholders involved in the operation included Namport, the home affairs ministry, finance ministry, Honesta Investment 32, Blue Bush Investment trading as Wildlife Vets Namibia, KLD Ship Agency, Walvis Bay Stevedoring, Erindi Game Lodge, Mount Etjo Lodge, El Nino Crew members, Pronto Global Air and Ocean Freight and Camel Transport.
Late last year, a consignment of 205 animals was transported from Walvis Bay to the same game park in Kinshasa.
According to Dr Tubbesing the animals, which were released into strictly non-hunting reserves, are doing well and have reproduced.
Another consignment of elephants is expected to be shipped to DRC in June.
ELLANIE SMIT
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