An impressive array of game is up for auction at Shamwari Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape on May 22.

Auctioneer Brandon Leer of Brandon Leer Auction Services says this auction is taking place because of the excess of game on the reserve.

"In order to conserve the veld it is wise to remove animals that are in excess," he said.

The reserve, home to the big five (elephant, lion, rhino, leopard and buffalo), will see a wide variety of species come under the hammer.

Up for bidding are several ante-lope, disease-free buffalo, hippo, black and white rhino, as well as the threatened bontebok and mountain zebra.

"We expect the white rhino to sell in excess of R200000 for the older animals and R120000 for the younger ones," he said.

"The black rhino hopefully will sell in excess of R400000 each and the buffalo cows sell anywhere between R300000 and R400000 each."

Leer believes that hosting the auction on the reserve is the best way to celebrate the successes of the reserve's breeding efforts and conservation initiatives.

Game sales are one of the management tools available to help maintain the ecological balances within the reserve, especially the herbivore (animals that eat only plants) and vegetation dynamics.

Furthermore, it is believed the auction will contribute to the economy of the wildlife industry within the Eastern Cape, a growing industry which has brought international tourism to the region.

One of the ways to conserve and protect wild animals is to have enough protected land available for them.

According to Leer, their bidders range from game farmers to professional hunters and businessmen who own game farms. "At the moment buffalo and sable are in high demand, and white rhinos are also very popular."

Viewing starts at 9am and the auction starts at noon on Saturday, May 22.

For more info, contact Catherine Gillson on 042-203-1023 or Johan Joubert on 082-901-1616 or e-mail: conservation@shamwari.com .