Windhoek – The poaching of elephants and rhinos in Africa is spreading to the sparsely-populated vastness of Namibia in the southeast of the continent, according to latest statistics.
Two elephants were killed between 2005 and 2011 as compared to 121 that have been killed over the last two years.
Namibia`s Deputy Environment Minister Pohamba Shifeta said that the government was worried by the trend and is working with law enforcement agencies to tackle the problem.
“We don’t want the numbers to escalate further,” Shifeta said.
“There is a high probability that attention will shift to Namibia as we have recently experienced.”
In neighbouring South Africa rhino poaching has reached alarming levels as more than 290 have been killed so far.
“The immediate requirement is to control the emerging commercial ivory poaching in the northeast part of the country and to prevent the westwards spread of rhino and elephant poaching into the Etosha National Park and beyond,” Shifeta told a meeting of police officers and rangers.
Namibia has 79 conservation areas covering more than 100,000 square kilometres and inhabited by some 300,000 people.
Most rhino horns and elephants ivory are being sold in Asia where it is big business as rhino horns are believed to have medicinal value.
Comments
About Author
