The Ministry of Environment and Tourism has started to dehorn black rhinos in an effort to combat poaching.
The ministry is also ready to deploy an anti-poaching unit of at least 300 people throughout the country as soon as structures are in place and funding has been approved.
The Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta, confirmed last week that a dehorning programme is in place to prevent rhino poaching.
According to Shifeta, the dehorning exercise will be implemented in risk areas where poaching has been very high, such as the Kunene and Erongo regions.
He said between 2005 and the end of last year Namibia had lost fewer than 10 rhinos. This year, 14 rhino carcasses have been discovered already.
“This is very concerning and the ministry is working very hard to combat this,” said Shifeta.
According to him the dehorning will be an expensive exercise and cannot be completed quickly. He said because poachers are after the horns, killing hornless rhinos would be a futile exercise.
Shifeta also pointed out that because rhino horn grows back, the ministry will assess the situation in a few years and decide whether or not to dehorn the rhinos again.
“The future will tell us what to do next and if the poaching situation has stabilised or not.”
Shifeta said the ministry has zero tolerance when it comes to poaching.
He confirmed that the ministry has started with the dehorning and said it is an ongoing process.
He, however, said there is need for more equipment such as aircraft to reach remote areas.
Shifeta said private white-rhino owners can apply for permission from the ministry to dehorn their rhinos.
An official from the ministry has to be on site when rhinos are dehorned.
He said the horns would be kept in the ministry’s stockroom, and should the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) give permission to sell the horns, the money will be used for conservation.
“There are countries that destroy the horns as a symbol, but it is better to sell them to get funds to plough back,” he said.
Shifeta said poaching has increased in Namibia because the country does not have a dedicated anti-poaching unit that is properly trained to protect wildlife.
“We lack the capacity, but that is what we are currently working on. Currently we rely on the police. We need to have a dedicated unit that is well trained.”
He said the ministry wants the anti-poaching unit to be set up as soon as possible.
“It all depends on the budget and the structures.”
Shifeta said to start off with, the anti-poaching unit will consist of about 300 people who will be deployed in high-risk areas first.
The ministry is also ready to deploy an anti-poaching unit of at least 300 people throughout the country as soon as structures are in place and funding has been approved.
The Deputy Minister of Environment and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta, confirmed last week that a dehorning programme is in place to prevent rhino poaching.
According to Shifeta, the dehorning exercise will be implemented in risk areas where poaching has been very high, such as the Kunene and Erongo regions.
He said between 2005 and the end of last year Namibia had lost fewer than 10 rhinos. This year, 14 rhino carcasses have been discovered already.
“This is very concerning and the ministry is working very hard to combat this,” said Shifeta.
According to him the dehorning will be an expensive exercise and cannot be completed quickly. He said because poachers are after the horns, killing hornless rhinos would be a futile exercise.
Shifeta also pointed out that because rhino horn grows back, the ministry will assess the situation in a few years and decide whether or not to dehorn the rhinos again.
“The future will tell us what to do next and if the poaching situation has stabilised or not.”
Shifeta said the ministry has zero tolerance when it comes to poaching.
He confirmed that the ministry has started with the dehorning and said it is an ongoing process.
He, however, said there is need for more equipment such as aircraft to reach remote areas.
Shifeta said private white-rhino owners can apply for permission from the ministry to dehorn their rhinos.
An official from the ministry has to be on site when rhinos are dehorned.
He said the horns would be kept in the ministry’s stockroom, and should the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) give permission to sell the horns, the money will be used for conservation.
“There are countries that destroy the horns as a symbol, but it is better to sell them to get funds to plough back,” he said.
Shifeta said poaching has increased in Namibia because the country does not have a dedicated anti-poaching unit that is properly trained to protect wildlife.
“We lack the capacity, but that is what we are currently working on. Currently we rely on the police. We need to have a dedicated unit that is well trained.”
He said the ministry wants the anti-poaching unit to be set up as soon as possible.
“It all depends on the budget and the structures.”
Shifeta said to start off with, the anti-poaching unit will consist of about 300 people who will be deployed in high-risk areas first.
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