Customize Consent Preferences

We use cookies to help you navigate efficiently and perform certain functions. You will find detailed information about all cookies under each consent category below.

The cookies that are categorized as "Necessary" are stored on your browser as they are essential for enabling the basic functionalities of the site. ... 

Always Active

Necessary cookies are required to enable the basic features of this site, such as providing secure log-in or adjusting your consent preferences. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable data.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collecting feedback, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics such as the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with customized advertisements based on the pages you visited previously and to analyze the effectiveness of the ad campaigns.

No cookies to display.

Namibia steps up anti-poaching efforts

Home National Namibia steps up anti-poaching efforts
Namibia steps up anti-poaching efforts

ETOSHA – Namibia strengthened its anti-poaching drive by launching two rhino preservation plans and a horse patrol unit at the country’s Etosha National Park on Friday.

Speaking at the commemoration of World Rhino Day, which falls on 22 September every year, Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism Pohamba Shifeta said the day is dedicated to raising awareness of the threats facing the rhino population, and how the world can come together to protect these endangered species.

The event was attended by officials from the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT), the Namibian Defence Force, the Namibian Police Force, representatives from the Save the Rhino Trust and the World Wildlife Fund, as well as people from conservancies.

“Illegal hunting for rhino horn is primarily responsible for the crash in the black rhino population in Africa from perhaps 100 000 in the 1960s to a low of about 2 410 in 1995. Through strict conservation programmes, the numbers in Africa have since increased, reaching 5 081 by the end of 2012,” Shifeta said.

The minister noted that the rhino preservation plans will serve as a tool to help conserve and sustainably manage a growing free-ranging population of both black and white rhinos in Namibia.

The use of horses in the conservation and protection of rhinos will thus help with mounted patrols, and cover more distances.

“Thirteen horses have been purchased by the MEFT, with funding support from the Game Products Trust Fund. Eight horses will have their duty station in the Etosha National Park, while five will be stationed in the Waterberg Plateau Park,” he added.

Shifeta said Namibia is still experiencing illegal rhino hunting, and the illegal trade in rhino horns. This year, 39 rhinos were poached in the country, compared to 92 in 2022, 50 in 2021, 47 in 2020 and 61 in 2019. 

– Nampa/Xinhua