Agriculture
FS sells off top buffalo and sable specimens─── SABRINA DEAN 15:17 Thu, 28 May 2015
Bloemfontein - Free State government says although it did not manage to raise the R7-million it had hoped for with its breeder specific auction in Bloemfontein, it is still satisfied that biodiversity and the wildlife industry have walked away as winners.
The auction is the second wildlife sale hosted by the Free State Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (Destea) this year. The catalogue comprised 30 buffalos and 10 sable antelope, described by Destea as genetically superior animals that have been carefully selected to give game farmers a competitive edge.
Destea Acting Director of Biodiversity and Conservation Thabang Selemela says despite the lower than hoped for revenue, the auction has still served other purposes:
'Thabang Selemela'
Auctioneer Mabunda Tirhani of Tirhani Auctioneers took bids from eighteen registered buyers from across southern Africa:
'Auctioneer'
Several of the animals were sold subject to confirmation. Selemela told buyers the department will first need to get approval from treasury and will communicate final decisions to buyers by Monday.
Sabrina Dean/OFM News
'Thabang Selemela':
'Auctioneer':
