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Sixty rhinos have been poached this year, far exceeding the total of 44 rhinos that were killed for their horns last year and the 42 in 2020. In the latest poaching incidents, two white rhinos were poached on a private farm near Seeis in the Windhoek district between Friday and Monday at an unknown time. According to the police, the rhinos were shot and all their horns were removed. The value of the two rhinos is estimated at N$660 000.

The environment ministry is investigating prominent wildlife dealer Johan Lombaard after he allegedly transported two white rhinos without the necessary paperwork. Namibian Sun understands the investigation was necessitated after Lombaard was involved in a car accident on Tuesday afternoon between Rehoboth and Kalkrand while transporting a rhino cow and its calf from Mariental to farm Uitkyk in the Karibib district.

Chinese rhino-horn smuggler Wang Hui (48) escaped from custody at around 11:00 yesterday and was still on the run at time of going to press last night. Wang escaped when he went to Brakwater with a warden from the Windhoek Central Prison to pick up material from a supplier.

The number of rhinos that have already been poached this year stands at 57, compared to the 44 rhinos that were killed by poachers last year. Spokesperson for the environment ministry, Romeo Muyunda, confirmed to Namibian Sun that two white rhinos were poached on private farms last week.

Environment and Tourism Minister Pohamba Shifeta has confirmed suspicions that some of the ministry’s rangers are part of syndicates causing poaching havoc in the Etosha National Park. Yesterday he confirmed that retired Commissioner Ndahangwapo Kashihakumwa, the head of the wildlife protection unit, has been redeployed from Windhoek to Etosha with immediate effect. "There was too much complacency from our staff in Etosha and there were inside jobs," he told Namibian Sun late yesterday.

New strategy aimed at defining common approaches for the protection and conservation of wildlife and to ensure the effective enforcement of laws governing wildlife resources in Namibia.

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.