The Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency (ECPTA) held its 14th Annual Game Auction this past weekend and, under the hammer of auctioneer, Roy Hayes, over 450 animals – including buffalo, mountain zebra, elands, plains zebras, springbok, bontebok and red hartebeest – were sold off to the highest bidder.
The Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency (ECPTA) held its 14th Annual Game Auction this past weekend and, under the hammer of auctioneer, Roy Hayes, over 450 animals – including buffalo, mountain zebra, elands, plains zebras, springbok, bontebok and red hartebeest – were sold off to the highest bidder.
The sale, which took place at the Fish River Sun, generated R6.4 million. R275 000 of this will got to the local community – the proceeds from two buffalo sold on their behalf.
The rest of the funds will be invested in the Agency's conservation programmes.
The ECPTA manages a number of provincial Nature Reserves including Baviaanskloof, Commando Drift, Great Fish River, Mpofu, Oviston and Tsolwana.
According to Vuyani Dayimani, ECPTA’s Chief Executive Officer, one of the agency's main goals is to secure biodiversity in the province through the management of these protected areas, plus developing and implementing a provincial protected area system and growing revenue from biodiversity goods and services.
He says that culling, hunting and live sales are important in achieving these goals and that they are proven methods of promoting healthy ecosystems. Plus there is capacity for funds to go back into the community – as was the case here.
The ECPTA is actively working to strengthen ties with those in the game industry.
“As auctions are directly about the buyers, we went on a drive to foster better relations with them through breakfast sessions across the province. We engaged with them about expectations – both ours and theirs.
We placed ads in the local press, on the ECPTA website and issued direct invitations to industry players which were sent out in good time.
We are very grateful for their continued support in our nature conservation and biodiversity management quest,” he says.
