Namibia’s elephant population ‘healthy’

WINDHOEK: Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism Pohamba Shifeta has revealed that Namibia has about 23 736 elephants, which leaves them unthreatened by extinction.

In August, the government announced the sale of 57 live elephants out of the 170 elephants put on auction to a tune of N$5.9 (R6.7m), which sparked a social media outcry that Namibia’s elephant population was threatened by extinction due to the sale of elephants.

Shifeta, while launching the National Elephant Conservation and Management Framework at the Bwabwata National Park in the Zambezi region last week, said the sale did not pose a threat to the existence of the species, as elephant conservation efforts had been successful.

“Namibia has had a healthy and growing elephant population from about 7 000 elephants at independence to an estimated total of 23 736 due to the current conservation efforts,” he said.

He said the ministry conducted regular aerial surveys to arrive at the total elephant population. | Nampa