Namibia: Hyenas Cause Havoc In Quarantine Camp


The Namibian (Windhoek)

15 July 2008
Posted to the web 15 July 2008


Hyenas have been causing trouble at the Omatambo Mauwe quarantine camp near Oshakati in the past month, killing at least 15 cattle, resulting in losses of thousands of Namibian dollars, according to Meatco.

Omatambo Mauwe is situated next to the Etosha National Park, and with the border fence being in poor condition, hyenas and even lions sometimes make their way into the quarantine camp, Meatco said in its latest newsletter.


The Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) agreed to look at the different options of addressing the problem as soon as a formal complaint reached their head office.

The first option could be to capture the hyenas and relocate them to other parts of the Etosha National Park.

"This however, proves to be a difficult exercise as hyenas do not easily let themselves be caught in a cage," according to Meatco.

"The downside of catching them by tranquillising them is an expensive activity as equipment such as helicopters are needed.

The other option would be to eliminate the problem animals," though this could only be a last resort.

Meanwhile, the meat plant at Oshakati has been slaughtering at full capacity the past two months and forecasts indicate that this will continue until August.

It is reported that the condition of the animals is good, with the exception of some regions where grasslands were covered with water for too long.

These cattle are slowly losing their condition as the winter progresses.

The Oshakati abattoir will temporarily shut down during mid-December and remain closed until mid-February 2009.

At Meatco's other export abattoirs, like the one at Okahandja, the last slaughter day for 2008 will be on Wednesday, December 17.

It is expected that slaughtering will resume on Monday, January 5 2009.

The Windhoek abattoir will temporarily shut down for maintenance at the end of October.

It will only reopen at the beginning of February 2009.

The abattoir at Katima Mulilo remains closed due to an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) at the end of 2007.

Cattle in the Caprivi Region are currently being vaccinated for the second time, which will run until August 1.

If the region remains FMD free for at least three months after the last vaccination, farmers will be allowed to start marketing their animals again.