Zambia engages South African firm to cull hippos
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Zambia's wildlife body has engaged a South African firm to cull hippos in one of the country's national parks, the Post of Zambia reported on Monday.
The Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) has engaged L&L Safaris to cull 600 hippos in South Luangwa National Park this year, situated in the eastern part of the country.
While sources told the paper that the tender was given to the South African firm without following laid down rules, the wildlife body said the tender was advertised in the media.
Sources within ZAWA told the paper that the South African firm was given the tender without following laid down procedures, a situation that had disadvantaged local hunting firms from participating in the game cropping exercise.
But ZAWA Director General Edwin Matowani said the company had been given a contract to cull hippos in the national park from May to December this year but indicated that it was not 600 hippos that will be killed but 200.
"The tender to cull hippopotamus in the Luangwa Valley was advertised in the press. However, the response was very poor and only L&L Safaris showed interest at that time. To this effect, consideration is currently being made by management to award the contract to the company based on performance," the official was quoted as saying by the paper.
But sources said the company was given a five year contract to cull hippos in game management areas and not in the national park, saying the contract for the culling of hippos in the park had been done without any tender procedures.
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