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Nelson Mandela Bay could have its own Big Five game reserve within the next two years.
That's if all the plans being hatched by well-known businessman and entrepreneur, Adrian Gardiner, of the Mantis Group, come to fruition.
Speaking at a BLC Attorneys' business breakfast in Gqeberha on Tuesday, Gardiner gave guests the broad strokes of the future plans for their ongoing partnership with the Hopewell Conservation Estate.
He said they plan to rewild captive animals and will also develop a breeding programme and scientific research station.
"It's probably one of the most exciting adventures that we have," he said.
Gardiner said that "all the neighbours have signed off with their permissions" with the permit applications having gone through one government department, and now needing to go through a conservation committee before they can proceed with the bold plan.
"Obviously when you start to put in the animals that we are talking about, the Big Five, there are certain fencing requirements that have to be done and obviously other permits, which should be a formality. One of the main things that want to do there is developing a scientific research station," he said.
Gardiner said they have done all the plans for it and were now lobbying for funding from international donors which he said would help get the project the proper exposure.
He said one of the first animals that they would be able to bring into the Estate would be Rhino, Buffalo and Elephant. Gardiner said they have not yet applied for permits for Lions, adding that they are still doing a lot of research in this regard.
He said an important part of the process would be to ensure that once the breeding programme was up and running, there are places for the animals to be relocated to.
