2009 KZN WILDLIFE GAME AUCTION 16 May 2009

EZEMVELO KZN WILDLIFE
MEDIA RELEASE No: 2009 - 05
2009 KZN WILDLIFE GAME AUCTION 16 May 2009
For Immediate release
The 2009 Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Game Auction, held at the Sibaya Casino and Entertainment World near Ballito, north of Durban on Saturday 16 May 2009, was a resounding success with the 1 625 animals on offer being sold for a total of R13.07 million.
20 blue wildebeest, 60 impala and 60 nyala came off the Makasa Community Conservation.
The Auction was supported by 73 registered buyers and their families as well as interested members of the public and iNkosi Zwelinzima Gumede from the Makasa community neighbouring the Mkhuze Game Reserve.
Top prices paid for various species were amongst others:
White rhino:R405 000
Zebra: R5 300
Nyala: R13 000
Hippo: R38 000
Dassies: R520

“We are delighted with the excellent result of the 2009 Game Auction which has once again shown that the South African game industry appreciates the quality of the animals we offer,” said EKZNW CEO Dr Bandile Mkhize.
“The benefits flowing from this event are many, and include a R13.07 million cash injection into our operating budget, and the dispersal of prime genetic material from our protected areas to private land holdings around South Africa,” he said.
“This provides a bio-diversity conservation benefit as well as providing attractive animals for game viewing by eco-tourists,” he said.
“I would like to thank the many buyers who supported our Game Auction and made it the great success it was,” said Dr Mkhize.
Animals sold on the KZN Wildlife Game Auction are surplus to the needs of the many protected areas under the management of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.
The animals are captured by the EKZNW Game Capture Unit, arguably one of the top game capture units in the world and whose well-trained staff take extreme care about the welfare of the animals being caught.

Credit: Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife