The manager of a wildlife reserve in Qingyuan, Guangdong Province that had received elephants from Zimbabwe said on Thursday the elephants are properly being taken care of, after another round of imports from Zimbabwe triggered concerns over the animal's well-being.
Zimbabwe will export more wild animals to China, including elephants, baboons and hyenas, to protect them from the country's dry season, and to raise resources against poaching, Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, Zimbabwe environment, water and climate minister, was quoted as saying by Zimbabwe-based Herald newspaper on Monday.
In July 2015, Zimbabwe sold 24 elephants, aged between 4 and 7, to the National Ex-Situ Conservation Base for World Endangered Wild Plants and Animals of the Chimelong Group, the China News Service (CNS) reported.
Responding to a BBC's report that exports are "stealing from the future generation's natural resources," Chimelong Group's marketing manager surnamed Chen told the Global Times on Thursday that elephant imports are a joint program of the Chinese and Zimbabwean governments, aimed at protecting wildlife.
Each elephant was priced at 26,000 pounds ($38,000), the Guardian reported on Wednesday. The elephant herd will be used for non-commercial purposes, such as research on ex-situ conservation, breeding and exhibition, the CNS reported.
"I am satisfied that the animals are in good shape and are being well taken care of," Muchinguri-Kashiri said after her visit to the reserve in December.
