40 crocodiles are up for sale through a tender process to reduce human-wildlife conflict in Namibia, their government said on Wednesday.
Accordingly, the purpose of this decision is to reduce the number of crocodiles in areas where human life has been affected, said Romeo Miunda, spokesperson of the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism in a statement.
In the statement, the Ministry of Forestry and Tourism stated that “West Kavango, East Kavango and the north-eastern regions of the Zambezi continue to experience crocodile attacks on people and their livestock.”
According to Miunda, the crocodiles will be sold through a tender where interested parties must submit bids for each crocodile in writing in sealed envelopes to the ministry.
“These offers must be deposited in the tender box at the headquarters of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Tourism by July 17. The tender specifications will be advertised in our local press,” he added.
Meanwhile, he added that the catching of crocodiles will be done under the full supervision of the Ministry and the cost of catching the crocodiles will be transferred to the buyer.
“Furthermore, buyers must undertake all associated activities, including disease inspections as well as any necessary after-care. Buyers must prove that there are suitable habitats for crocodiles,” he said.
Since 2019, Namibia has paid more than $2.3 million (about US$154,000) in compensation for human life and livestock damage caused by crocodiles, according to their Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism.
