ONGWEDIVA – Two more rhino carcasses were found in Etosha National Park between last week Thursday and Sunday, bringing the number of rhinos poached in Etosha this year to three.
According to the Ministry of Environment and Tourism Public Relations Officer Romeo Muyunda, it is believed that the animals were killed as a result of poaching.
This was the first incident of rhino poaching in Etosha in the last 10 years.
The latest discovery took place in the area of Ombika, where the carcass of a rhino believed to have been poached between two and three months ago were found.
This discovery came just four days after another rhino carcass, which is suspected to have been poached in February this year, was also discovered in Etosha.
“Rhino poaching is continuing and this is a serious concern because rhinos attract a lot of tourism to our country,” Muyunda said.
“We are thus urging those with information that can lead to the arrest of the suspects to come forward. The culprits should also know that we will catch them and they will face the full wrath of the law.”
Until Thursday, no one had been arrested in connection with the three incidents.
Meanwhile, police in Oshikoto are searching for two men believed to be part of a gang that poached an eland, also in Etosha National Park.
According to Deputy Commissioner William Peter, the two are among six suspects that entered the park earlier last week where they shot and killed an eland. The suspects allegedly cut the animal in pieces and divided it among themselves.
By last week Friday, four of the six suspected poachers were already detained, while two others were still on the run.
“The suspects at large are requested to surrender themselves to the police and not to waste government resources as there is no room for them to survive or to escape the rule of law,” he said.
Peter maintained that all Namibian animals -domesticated and wild – are protected by law. Hence, prospective hunters must obtain hunting permits from the Minister of Environment and Tourism.
Peter thus urged all councillors, teachers and traditional authority leaders as well as members of Women and Men Network in Oshikoto Region to educate communities on issues related to poaching, and animals rights.
By Helvy Shaanika