Ongwediva
Thirty-four poached rhino carcasses were discovered this year through aerial and foot patrols in the Etosha National Park and Palmwag/Klip River areas of the Kunene Region, 29 of which were found in Etosha National Park and five at Palmwag/Klip River since January.
Chief Inspector Kauna Shikwambi, head of the police public relations division, said four Namibian nationals arrested in December for alleged poaching of a rhino at Klip River have also been linked through investigations to some of the carcasses found near Klip River this year.
Shikwambi confirmed that a Chinese national was arrested in Windhoek last month after he was found in possession of about 90 kg of abalone, as well as 1.1 kg of rhino horns pieces reportedly harvested from different rhino horns.
“DNA analyses are being carried out to determine the origin of these rhino horn pieces and to be linked to those rhino carcasses found,” said Shikwambi.
She these cases are enjoying the attention of the Rhino Poaching Investigation Task Team, which is comprised of seasoned detectives.
“No elephant carcasses were discovered since the beginning of the year, although one Zambian national was arrested in January 2016 in the Kongola area for possession of three elephant tusks. The origin of these tusks has not yet been established,” she further stated.
Most of their success can be attributed to superb cooperation between members of the public in the affected areas and the Namibia Police Force Operational team, she said, and encouraged the public to continue their collaboration with the police, as without the valuable information received from local people, the police may not have achieved the successes achieved to date.
In the same vein she urged the public to refrain from grazing their cattle in the country’s national parks. “We must embark upon an intensive campaign on wildlife conservation, while recognising the importance of wildlife to human survival and posterity, because the absence of a balance between nature and economic development will culminate in human suffering,” Shikwambi stated.