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Record number of buffalo, zebra sold at Wildsfees auction

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A record 55 buffalo and 50 Cape Mountain Zebra were sold at the annual Kirkwood Wildsfees game sale.

All 50 of the Cape Mountain Zebra from the Mountain Zebra Park were sold, at an average of R20 000 a head, according to auctioneer Brandon Leer.

This was the first time the DNA-tested Cape Mountain Zebra were offered for sale at the auction.

“It was an excellent sale under the circumstances,” he said.

Game farmers are under pressure due to the drought and other economic factors and game sales throughout the country have been down.

Turnover at the sale was R7,5 million.

In 2016 the Kirkwood Wildsfees game sale turned over R8,7 million.

One of this year’s highlights was the sale of two rhino from the Kragga Kamma Game Park in Port Elizabeth.

They sold for R110 000 and R130 000 – “which is in line with the ruling market prices.

“The positive about this year’s sale is that the prices were realistic, which means that buyers will not be scared off next year by very high prices,” says Leer.

The top price for a buffalo was R130 000 for a cow.

Of the total of 61 buffalo offered for sale by the Addo Elephant National Park 55 were sold.

Five young bulls and a cow did not achieve their reserve price.

A percentage of the turnover from the sale also goes to the Kirkwood Wildsfees, which uses the funds to uplift the local community.

The remainder goes to the Park Development Fund, which supports the expansion of parks to increase the area under protection, according to SANParks egional communications manager Fayroush Ludick.

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.