WINDHOEK, Jan. 24 — Namibia recorded its first case of rhinoceros poaching this year in an incident where a suspected poacher was killed Saturday, Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism (MEFT) spokesperson Romeo Muyunda confirmed Monday.
It is alleged that three male suspects hunted a rhinoceros at farm Okarakua, a district of Windhoek, the capital of Namibia, in which one suspect was shot and killed by the anti-poaching members and another male suspect, aged 27, was detained, while the third one is still at large, said a weekend serious crime report released by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security.
“The following items were recovered; a hunting rifle, silencer, rounds, two horns, and two cell phones. The value of the items is not yet determined. The nationalities of the poachers are still not known as police investigations are still ongoing,” the report added.
“It is unfortunate that a person lost his life, but we commend the team that was involved in tracking the suspects. Again this is an indication that crime does not always pay,” Muyunda said, adding that this is the first recorded poaching incident of the year in the country.
Namibia and its partners in wildlife protection and law enforcement late November last year stepped up efforts against wildlife crime in the country, especially during the festive season.
In 2022, Namibia recorded 63 cases of rhinoceros poached in the country, consisting of 41 black rhinoceros and 22 white rhinoceros. (Xinhua)
Suspected rhinoceros poacher killed in Namibia
