Zim auctions elephants, leopards
http://www.zimonline.co.za

by Tobias Manyuchi Friday 04 March 2011

HARARE – Zimbabwean wildlife authorities will today auction hunting packages
for big game including elephants, lions and leopards with dozens of local
and foreign hunters expected to take part in the auction.

The packages known as hunting camps consist of animal species packaged into
bags to be hunted over a 10 to 14-day period in the Nyakasanga area of
Hurungwe Safari and Sapi Safari in north-western Zimbabwe.

"The animals on offer include elephants, lions, leopards, buffalo,
hippopotamus and plains game such as kudu, impala, waterbuck and birds," the
National Parks and Wildlife Authority said in a statement.

"A cash participation deposit of 10,000 USD for hunting camps and 500 for
fishing camps will be required in order to obtain a buyer's licence number
which is refundable if all sale conditions are met," it said.

The last auction in 2009 saw bidders coming from Austria, Germany, Russia,
Spain and the United States. The country earned $1.5 million from the
auction.

The wildlife department has sanctioned several hunts over the past decade
especially as way to cull excess animals.

But illegal hunting has also been rife in Zimbabwe over the same period and
mostly blamed on black villagers who have since 2000 invaded – and with
tacit approval from President Robert Mugabe and his ZANU PF party --
white-owned farms and game conservancies where they have been accused of
poaching animals for food.

The situation has not been helped by reports of illegal and uncontrolled
trophy hunting on former white-owned conservancies now controlled by
powerful government officials and members of ZANU PF, although the
government denies politicians are illegally hunting game and insists it
still has poaching under control. – ZimOnline

Does any one know what a Sapi buff and ele bull cost this year?