THE annual Kirkwood Wildsfees game auction, in partnership with Nedbank and SANParks is breaking new ground with hyena and prize buffalo with Kruger National Park genes on sale.
Five spotted hyena from Addo Elephant National Park (AENP) will be up for auction tomorrow at noon.
There will be 15 lots of buffalo from the Mokala National Park, which is near Kimberley in the Northern Cape.
“Certainly, the pick of the day is an exceptional 38 inch horn cow with a bull calf at foot,” says auction convener Johan Swart.
“There is also a magnificent bull with a 46 inch horn span, as well as a 32 inch horn cow with a bull calf at foot that will be sold with a 1½ -year-old heifer as a parcel.
The buffalo, known for their large horn sizes, have been bred outside the Kruger by SANParks, and have been certified disease-free.
There will also be five disease-free buffalo bulls from Addo on auction. Their horn size ranges from 33 inch to 39½ inch.
A clan of five hyenas from Addo has also caught the attention of lodge owners across the country, according to Swart.
Addo Elephant National Park Park Manager, Nick de Goede, says the decision to make hyena available this year is because the Park is reaching its threshold of potential concern and would like to be pro-active in reducing their numbers.
It is estimated that there are about 40 spotted hyenas in the main game viewing area of the Park.
Visitors to Addo are likely to see them in the early mornings as they make their way home to two dens between the Rooidam turnoff and the Rooidam water hole.
Eight spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) were reintroduced into AENP in 2003 – after having been shot out over 100 years ago.
Wide selection of prime game
There will be a wide selection of other prime game on auction. Buyers can view the game that will be on auction from noon today in the Mayogi bomas, which are situated on the R75 between the two Kirkwood turnoffs.
The Addo buffalo will be in the Addo bomas. Game that will be in the boma includes kudu, blue wildebeest, eland and waterbuck bulls. -REPORTER
