Hier hört es sich so an als wäre der falsche "Problemelefant" getltet worden.
Wild Heart Wildlife Foundation
Voortrekker, the iconic pioneer of the Namib Elephants has been killed.
Johannes Haasbroek from Elephant Human Relations Aid (EHRA) in Namibia, posted the following statement on Facebook -:
"So it’s confirmed. The iconic bull Voortrekker has been murdered by a trophy hunter on Tuesday morning. He was the last large dominant bull amongst the 120 desert dwelling elephant left in the North West deserts of Namibia"... Read his full statement at: facebook.com/johannes.haasbroek/posts/10161716027415447
AN urgent letter addressed to the Ministry of Environment and Tourism’s deputy director of the North Western Regions, Christoph Munwela, and written by the management of conservancies neighbouring the Ohungo Conservancy in the area of Omatjete to prevent the killing by a hunter of one of Namibia’s most iconic wild animals, one of the last remaining desert adapted elephant bulls, shows that a flagrant error was made when the hunting licence was issued.
Besides the fact the management committees of the Otjimboyo, Sorris Sorris, Tsiseb conservancies asked Munwela for a meeting to discuss ways to avoid the killing of one of the oldest living bull elephants in Namibia they also informed the MET official that the elephant, known as Voortrekker (pioneer), in the sights of the hunter is in fact not part of the herd that has been bothering the community of the Ohungu Conservancy in the area of Omatjete.
“We understand that complaints have been received from communities living in the Omatjete area. The Ugab West population of the desert elephants do not cross into these communities. Data on their movement patterns (some of the elephants are fitted with tracking collars) shows their easterly reach to be as far as Ozondati. It is not correct that elephants from areas outside of the zone of complaints are shot,” states the letter addressed to Munwela.
Despite the facts being pointed out clearly by people on the ground that ekes out a meagre living from tourist dollars from visitors to the conservancies, the sustainability of the income in their opinion outweighs the nominal damage the elephants of the area has done to infrastructure of cattle farmers that has systematically infringed on the conservation area and the communities that lived there before their arrival.
The statement below is from the Ministry of Environment and Tourism Namibia:
" The Ministry takes note of concerns over the destruction of an elephant bull in the area of Omatjete.
We wish to inform the public that the elephant bull concerned was put down after in was declared a problem.
The animal alongside others have been destroying properties and infrastructure in the area if Omatjete.
The Ministry has since tried to put in measures to manage such conflicts by among others, upgrading water infrastucture for both elephants and humans. Separate water points for elephants were constructed and combined this costed N$4 million.
Additionally, our staff members on a regular basis assisted in driving away such elephants from the communities and people's properties.
Even after such efforts by the Ministry, people continued to suffer losses as a result of these elephants. Against this background, this bull was declared problem causing animal to be destroyed through trophy hunting to generate funds for the affected communities to recuperate their losses they suffered.
We are aware of claims that certain Conservancies objected to the hunt. The communities who objected to the hunt were not affected by the elephants as the elephants were mainly causing problems in the Omatjete area.
Given the nature and the magnitude of the the damages caused by the elephants, we had no other option than to unfortunately put down the elephant"
In a response to a journalist, the ministry said -"The elephant was shot in Omatjete area after it was declared a problem causing animal. To generate funds for the affected communities we had the elephant hunted as a TROPHY"
Which means Voortrekker was hunted as a trophy, disguised as problem animal.
R.I.P. #Voortrekker...
To learn more about the iconic elephant Voortrekker, go to:
www.thedodo.com/livi...b-voo-659043534.html