Rhino poachers leave bloody trail through Kunene

A total of 18 rhinos have been killed for their horns in Namibia this year, including 13 in protected areas and five on commercial farms.

Eleven white rhinos and five black rhinos were poached, while the other two were of unknown species, environment, forestry and tourism ministry spokesperson Vilho Hangula confirmed to Namibian Sun's sister publication Republikein this week.

The latest two incidents occurred in the Kunene region.

According to the Namibian Police crime report, a man who was wounded during a weekend shoot-out with an anti-poaching unit on a farm was taken to Outjo State Hospital for medical treatment.

It was later confirmed that the suspect, who allegedly attempted to poach a rhino on the farm, was seriously wounded and transferred to a hospital in Windhoek.

Police said two men, aged 30 and 45, entered the farm at about 09:00 on Saturday and were spotted by game rangers on patrol. The suspects allegedly opened fire on the rangers after seeing them. The rangers returned fire, wounding the 30-year-old man.

The 45-year-old suspect, who is known to the farm owner, fled.

Police said a hunting rifle, two rounds of ammunition, two spent cartridges, a knife, an axe, bread and potato chips were found at the scene.

Another suspect, a 35-year-old man who allegedly acted as the getaway driver, was also arrested after he was found in a white seven-seater vehicle parked near the farm.

The suspects are being investigated for conspiring to hunt specially protected wildlife and trespassing.

Bloody trail of dead and wounded rhinos

According to the farm owner, there have been repeated incidents of trespassing on his farm. A white rhino was shot in February, another was wounded in March, one was in April and another was wounded in May.

“The driver of the getaway vehicle said he had dropped off the same suspects at my farm twice before, usually during a new moon," he told Republikein.

According to the owner, the suspect who fled was out on bail after previously being caught with rhino horns.

On another farm in the Kunene region, a pregnant white rhino cow was shot 10 times and killed last Monday morning before her horns were removed.

According to the farm owner, the cow was nine months pregnant and the unborn calf also died. Her male calf was also wounded in the leg.

“It was horrific. I am so heartbroken to say goodbye to her after 14 years, and she was such a good mother,” the emotional owner told Republikein.

“The wounded calf is being monitored in a safe enclosure and the wound was stitched by a veterinarian. The calf will undergo X-rays this week to determine whether there is any damage to the leg. We are praying there is not.”

No suspects have been arrested in connection with the incident. The farm owner urged anyone with information that could lead to the suspects’ arrest to contact the police, offering a reward.

Several items allegedly left behind by the poachers were recovered and secured for forensic and DNA analysis, journalist Desmarius Hansen reported.

The owner warned that the horn could contain unidentified forensic and anti-poaching evidence. He also warned that using the horn could cause serious medical problems, although he did not disclose what these might be.

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