The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) has called for bids for the sustainable hunting of one male Rhinocerous.
A similar exercise conducted in 2015 generated US$350,000 (N$6,600,163.50).
The offer is valid for this hunting season, which lapses end of November 2023. The rhino on offer is old in its post-reproductive stage.
“Rhinocerous in old age cause territorial fights that may injure and cause mortalities to reproductive young bulls and are non-reproductive in a population,” the Ministry’s spokesperson, Romeo Munyunda, said on Monday.
“Rhinos, just as in any wildlife species in the country, are a resource and according to the Constitution and our conservation principles must be utilised to benefit the current and future generations of this country. Therefore, the Ministry calls for Namibian registered companies to submit their written financial offers for sustainable hunting.”
He said the funds generated from sustainable hunting are deposited into the Game Products Trust Fund.
“The aim of the Fund is to support activities aimed at mitigating and reducing the impact of human-wildlife conflict on communities that share the same living space with wild animals.
“Namibia has the largest population of black rhinos in the world thanks to our innovative conservation methods and unwavering dedication, as a result we can afford to utilise the resources we have to raise the much-needed funds for conservation.”
According to the bid requirements, the preferred companies according to the Ministry’s specifications should be registered with the Namibia Tourism Board, owned by or having in its employment a Namibian Professional Hunter (Big Game), and duly registered with the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism.
“Offers should also indicate when they intend to conduct the hunting. While a 20% discount will be given to companies with at least 20% ownership by formerly disadvantaged Namibians; and/or 10% discounts for companies with formerly disadvantaged Namibians at the Professional Hunter (Big Game) level.”
