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Corruption is a key enabler of the illegal wildlife trade and its effects can be seen in every stage of this crime chain. This is according to a new report by the wildlife trade monitoring network, TRAFFIC, which said by reviewing past wildlife crime court cases, the relationship between these crimes and corruption can be better understood. It noted that thoroughly investigating corruption in these cases can potentially identify higher-level individuals for investigation, arrest, conviction and appropriate sentencing, disrupting organised criminal groups to a greater extent.

Poachers have struck a horrible blow in the Uukwaluundhi Conservancy, located in the Omusati Region, by killing four black rhino and wounding three others. The rhino carcasses were discovered last Thursday when the newly established association aiming to protect rhinos in Namibia, HoRN.nam, was called in to assist in tracking rhino in the conservancy. According Jaco Muller from HoRN.nam, he was contacted by the concession holder of the conservancy Wouter Smit, who expressed concern over the fact that their rhino have "not been seen much lately".

As rhino poaching in Namibia is increasing dramatically, concerned rhino owners yesterday gathered at Okahandja to launch a new organisation focusing on the protection of the rhino. However, debate was sparked about the government’s involvement and the legalisation of trading in rhino horn. One of the issues raised by rhino owners was the fact that the organisation was not driven by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism and that there seemed to be a lack of involvement from the ministry's side.