Ioan Niculae, the richest Romanian, had paid some USD 40,000 to hunt and kill an elephant in South Africa, and then paid another USD 50,000 to have the animal stuffed and shipped to Romania, reports timeslive.co.za.

Niculae shot the elephant in February last year in Hoedspruit, Limpopo, but it was not yet shipped to Romania. Stuffing an elephant is a lengthy process and has taken about seven months.

The order was however delayed because Niculae wanted a host of other animals mounted. A crate has to be built for the Romanian billionaire’s 19 trophies, which include a buffalo, warthogs, a blesbok and skins from which items such as cushions or handbags can be made, reports timeslive.co.za.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com