An increase in the incidence of human-elephant conflict is driving sales, the state-owned daily New Era said in an announcement.
Namibian elephants are one of the many species that are at risk of extinction due to poaching, illegal wildlife trade and ecological factors.
The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism said it would auction the elephants in Namibia or abroad for anyone who could meet certain stringent criteria, including attached facilities and a game-proof fence certificate for the property where the elephants will be kept.
Foreign buyers must also provide proof that defense officials in their countries will allow them to export elephants to their countries.
Like many other African countries, Namibia is trying to strike a balance to protect high-value species such as elephants and rhinos, which are endangered when they invade human habitation.
Namibia’s conservation campaign has received international support – according to government figures, its elephant population has grown from about 7,500 in 1995 to 24,000 in 2019.
But last year Namibia said it was considering retreating from the rules governing global trade in endangered species. This comes after countries voted during a CITES meeting to reject proposals to lift its ban on hunting and exporting white rhinos.
The country wants to allow more trophy hunting and export of live animals, arguing that raising funds through it will help protect those species.
In October, it put up to sell 70 female and 30 male buffaloes from Watersburg Plateau Park in central Namibia to relieve pressure on grazing land.
The arid South African nation also auctioned off 1,000 animals from national parks in 2019, leading to a mysterious century of drought.
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