Rhino poaching has increased by 93% in Namibia – reaching an all-time high in 2022. Eighty-seven animals were killed. Rhino populations have plummeted due to efforts to feed rhino horn demands in Asia.

Traditional Chinese medicine makes use of rhino horn. Despite no proven medical benefits. There is also demand in Vietnam, where horns represent a sign of wealth.

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Namibia poaching in numbers

Poachers killed 61 black and 26 white rhinos, says the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism. More than half of the animals were found dead in Etosha park. The Ministry’s spokesperson, Romeo Muyunda says the ministry and law enforcement are stepping up efforts against wildlife crime in the park.

We note with serious concern that our flagship park, Etosha National Park, is a poaching hotspot

Rhino poaching plagues southern Africa, especially in Botswana and South Africa. The incessant crime has led to de-horning or the controlled removal of rhino horns to deter poachers. Elephant poaching is on the decline in Namibia. It has decreased from a high of 101 (2015) to a low of 4 elephants (2022).

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International criminal gangs use sophisticated equipment to track and tranquilise the animals, before hacking off the horn. The animal then bleeds to death. Thus, wildlife teams saw off rhino horns in order to keep the animal alive.

Just over 5000 black rhinos are still alive.

First poaching case of 2023

The first case of rhino poaching in Namibia saw the suspected poacher killed. The Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism spokesperson, Romeo Muyunda confirmed this.

Three males allegedly, on January 21, hunted a rhino at the Okaraku farm. Anti-poaching members killed one suspect and arrested another. A third suspect is reportedly at large.

The following items were recovered; a hunting rifle, silencer, rounds, two horns, and two cell phones. The value of the items is not yet determined. The nationalities of the poachers are still not known as police investigations are still ongoing

Muyunda says the ministry confirms that such an incident occurred.

Unfortunately, a person lost his life, but we commend the team that was involved in tracking the suspects. Again this is an indication that crime does not always pay

Muyunda adds that this is the first recorded poaching incident of the year in Namibia.

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