Transport and release facilities

Buyers will be responsible for the transport costs as specified in the catalogue. Costs will be N$ 20.00 (VAT excl.) per kilometer carrying load for trucks only and N$ 25.00 (VAT excl.) per kilometer for trucks with trailers, unless otherwise specified. Buyers are advised to purchase several lots of animals from the same seller/source to reduce the cost of transport per animal. Generally 24-36 animals can be transported per load, depending on the species transported and the truck and crates used. However, no guarantee can be given that different lots or lots of different species can and will be transported together. Buyers should consult sellers prior to the auction to determine the number of animals that can be transported per load.

Buyers must ensure that off-loading facilities of acceptable standards are available. These must be easily accessible by regular trucks and trailers, allow for rear and side door off-loading, and should always be placed away from the perimeter fence or any other obstruction to the animals being released. Buyers are requested to meet the specifications given by the respective sellers.

Buyers are advised to introduce animals to farms/camps that are suitably game-proof-fenced to avoid losing animals, even the so-called non-jumping species, over or through the fence. Release bomas can be very useful to let animals settle down after capture and transport and to facilitate slow and passive release. Such bomas must be designed and constructed with sufficient size and height using suitable materials, otherwise animals can break out or easily injure themselves by jumping against or attempting to jump over the boma wall. African Wildlife Services strongly recommends that nyala and lechwe be kept in suitable release bomas (for nyala the boma should include a dense bush thicket) from which these can be released passively under optimal conditions. Supplementary feeding should be supplied in the dry season. Animals prone to fighting such as roan antelope, oryx antelope and male-only groups should not be confined in bomas unless their horns are piped. Hippopotami should be introduced into suitable electrified game camps and obviously will need permanent deep water and sufficient grazing. Supplementary feeding (e.g. lucerne) should also be supplied in the dry season.

The introduction farm/camp should be regularly patrolled to monitor the released animals without disturbing them unnecessarily. Permanent or temporary dams/water troughs should be placed near the perimeter fence and farmers should ascertain whether the released animals have located drinking water post-release.

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