More than 40% of the 987 suspects arrested in connection with elephant and rhino wildlife crimes over the past five years are currently free on bail. Statistics show that 415 of the close to 1 000 persons arrested on elephant and rhino crime charges were released on bail, while only 142 of those detained since 2017 have been convicted of their crimes to date. Meanwhile, more than 87% of the 987 arrested suspects are Namibians. This is according to statistics shared by deputy commissioner Barry de Klerk, head of the protected resources division and the Blue Rhino Task Team. The senior official provided an overview of wildlife crimes in Namibia at a national stakeholders’ forum on wildlife crime and law enforcement. Among the statistics released was the seizure of 291 firearms since 2017, of which 18 were confiscated this year. A total of 152 vehicles were also impounded during this period - 17 this year. And, in addition to the 11 black rhino carcasses discovered in Etosha National Park recently, rhino poaching figures for 2022 now stand at 21.