The multi-million-dollar project of transporting Namibian wild animals to Cuba, dubbed Noah’s Ark, will end in mid-December when the last batch of Namibian wildlife will be delivered to the Caribbean nation.
The last animals to make the journey to Cuba will be five elephants, five white rhino and five black rhino, collectively valued at N$7.5 million.
The translocation exercise is part of government's decision a few years ago to donate wild animals worth an estimated N$25 million to Cuba.
The first phase was completed in November last year. During this phase 123 animals of 20 different species of antelope, birds and predators were transported to Cuba.
The animals were airlifted from the Hosea Kutako International Airport and were caught in the Waterberg Plateau and Etosha national parks.
The deputy minister of environment and tourism, Pohamba Shifeta, yesterday told Namibian Sun that the second phase is well on track and it is expected that the animals will be flown to Cuba by mid-December.
“Everything is on track. The animals have been put in quarantine and we are preparing them for flight.”
He said this would be the last batch of animals to be sent to Cuba under the existing agreement. “I am not saying that there will not be future agreements that involve the translocation of animals,” he added.
Asked about the cost of the project, Shifeta said the final cost would only be known and announced once the last stage has been completed.
According to Shifeta the animals sent to Cuba during the first phase have adapted well and have bred. He said none of them have died.
“This means that the species are not under any stress and are living in a conducive environment.”
Fears had been expressed that the translocation would place certain species at serious risk because of the long transit time and Cuba’s unfamiliar tropical climate.
Responding to local and international criticism of the project, Shifeta said the critics do not understand the project fully.
“We have plenty of wildlife in Namibia and they are in competition with each other and for resources such as food and water. Wildlife should be sustainably harvested to level out the ecosystem.
“We have plenty of animals and by giving some away we are not impacting on the growth of our species. We are very careful and doing it in a sustainable manner.”
Shifeta said animals that compete for food can suffer such stress that they stop breeding or start killing each other.
He emphasised that the donation of these animals is a token of appreciation to Cuba.
During Namibia’s struggle for independence from South Africa in the 1970s and 1980s, Cuba provided Namibia with military and political support.
Initially 180 animals of various species were agreed upon but after the veterinary authorities of Cuba visited Namibia in February last year, the number was reduced. For veterinary reasons it was decided that warthog, waterbuck, wildebeest and zebra would not be sent to Cuba.
The last animals to make the journey to Cuba will be five elephants, five white rhino and five black rhino, collectively valued at N$7.5 million.
The translocation exercise is part of government's decision a few years ago to donate wild animals worth an estimated N$25 million to Cuba.
The first phase was completed in November last year. During this phase 123 animals of 20 different species of antelope, birds and predators were transported to Cuba.
The animals were airlifted from the Hosea Kutako International Airport and were caught in the Waterberg Plateau and Etosha national parks.
The deputy minister of environment and tourism, Pohamba Shifeta, yesterday told Namibian Sun that the second phase is well on track and it is expected that the animals will be flown to Cuba by mid-December.
“Everything is on track. The animals have been put in quarantine and we are preparing them for flight.”
He said this would be the last batch of animals to be sent to Cuba under the existing agreement. “I am not saying that there will not be future agreements that involve the translocation of animals,” he added.
Asked about the cost of the project, Shifeta said the final cost would only be known and announced once the last stage has been completed.
According to Shifeta the animals sent to Cuba during the first phase have adapted well and have bred. He said none of them have died.
“This means that the species are not under any stress and are living in a conducive environment.”
Fears had been expressed that the translocation would place certain species at serious risk because of the long transit time and Cuba’s unfamiliar tropical climate.
Responding to local and international criticism of the project, Shifeta said the critics do not understand the project fully.
“We have plenty of wildlife in Namibia and they are in competition with each other and for resources such as food and water. Wildlife should be sustainably harvested to level out the ecosystem.
“We have plenty of animals and by giving some away we are not impacting on the growth of our species. We are very careful and doing it in a sustainable manner.”
Shifeta said animals that compete for food can suffer such stress that they stop breeding or start killing each other.
He emphasised that the donation of these animals is a token of appreciation to Cuba.
During Namibia’s struggle for independence from South Africa in the 1970s and 1980s, Cuba provided Namibia with military and political support.
Initially 180 animals of various species were agreed upon but after the veterinary authorities of Cuba visited Namibia in February last year, the number was reduced. For veterinary reasons it was decided that warthog, waterbuck, wildebeest and zebra would not be sent to Cuba.
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