Wildlife Vets support game farmers ahead of auction

Katharina Moser
Preparing game for auction is no easy task and requires the expertise of experienced wildlife veterinarians to ensure the welfare of the animals.
Wildlife Vets Namibia's Dr Ulf Tubbesing and Mariska Bijsterbosch last week darted 23 antelopes at Farm Klawerberg, providing the animals with vaccinations and vitamin boosters, and measured and photographed them in preparation for the next big game action in Namibia.
The 9 000 hectare game farm is owned by South African game breeder Charl du Toit and managed by farm manager Willie Pienaar.
They were assisted by helicopter pilot Raymund Simon from Simon Wildlife Services.
On 29 April, 600 antelope bulls will be sold in a catalogue auction, including 300 animals from Klawerberg. The auction will also include antelopes owned by the South African Piet du Toit from the Namibian farm Summit.
According to the farmers and vets involved, auctions and game sales like this enable the conservation of the game population in Namibia as they generate the income that enables commercial farmers to tend their game.
Selected bulls from the auction are used for breeding and later for trophy hunting. This reporter accompanied the Wildlife Vets in their work at Klawerberg. More news will follow next year.