3 rhino hunts up for auction in Namibia

Compiled Sanet van Zijl | Main photo ©Paul van Schalkwyk

Three black rhinos will be put up for trophy hunting by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism, even though there is much dispute about this issue.

An advertisement has been placed in various Namibian newspapers declaring that 3 black rhinoceroses will be available during the present hunting season, which will end in November this year.

The trophy hunting season in Namibia runs from 1 February until 30 November each year. The Ministry of Environment and Tourism has taken the stance that “conservation programs will be harmed if hunting stops”. Communal conservancies will be most affected, as trophy hunting provides massive income for the inhabitants of these rural communities. A total of 82 conservancies are supported through hunting initiatives in Namibia.

Earnings from trophy hunting are ploughed back into community conservation and species conservation at the end of the day. This is in agreement with policies and legislation.

In the ad it is stated that companies registered by the Namibia Tourism Board (NTB), that has a MET-registered professional hunter in employment are invited to submit offers for the hunts. Written financial offers in Namibia dollars only, for one rhino per company may be submitted.

The hunts are made available to Namibian companies only, although they may bring in foreign clients. A discount of 20% will be given to companies with a 20% ownership by formerly disadvantaged Namibians. 10% discounts will be given to companies with formerly disadvantaged Namibians at the professional hunter level.

Hunters should ensure that they will be hunting with a registered Namibian hunting operator and that they have a registered Namibian hunting professional on the hunt.

Written financial offers should be submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Tourism on or before the end of this month, no later than 13:00. Envelopes will be opened on the same day at 16:00.