SANBI to hold virtual wildlife auction for the first time in 5 years

Posted by Tsoku Maela on 16 January 2023

The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) is planning to hold a virtual auction for the first time since 2018, in which between 140 and 170 animals are expected to be sold.

Picture: Getaway gallery

The animals are bred at the National Zoological Gardens in Pretoria and at the Mokopane Biodiversity Conservation Centre, which is a satellite centre to the main zoo. According to SANBI’s marketing, communications and commercialization director, Nontsikelelo Mpulo, only game species typically found in the South African game industry are sold at auction, and they are typically bought by South African game ranchers with the necessary permits.

The auction date has not been disclosed yet, but SANBI has already issued a call to tender for an auctioneer on its website. Mpulo said that they periodically sell surplus stock through auctions, while the National Zoological Gardens periodically sell offspring to prevent inbreeding and overcrowding. SANBI hopes to make between R1 million and R1.5 million from the sale of the animals, depending on market fluctuations.

SANBI stated that numerous wildlife auctions are held annually in South Africa, and the costs involved are available on the auctioneers’ websites to give prospective bidders an opportunity of what to expect. The person who bids to take on the role of auctioneer must be a registered livestock/game auctioneer and will be required to auction wildlife, domestic, indigenous and exotic species that are deemed surplus.

‘Once the required holding and transport permits have been issued to the buyers, arrangements will be made to conduct any medical testing required, and further arrangements will be made to capture the animals for the buyers to collect from the two facilities,’ Mpulo said.

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