260 poaching cases
The nationality of more than a hundred poaching suspects is unknown, the environment minister revealed yesterday.
A total of 266 cases of wildlife crime have been registered in Namibia since the beginning of last year, and 231 suspects have been arrested.
The majority of those arrested are Namibians, statistics indicate, while contrary to popular belief the majority of foreigners involved in poaching are Zambians and Angolans.
In an exclusive interview with Namibian Sun, tourism minister Pohamba Shifeta revealed the latest statistics pertaining to wildlife crime.
Last year 260 poaching cases were reported, involving the illegal hunting of elephants and rhinos and the possession of elephant tusks and rhino horns.
These consisted of 105 cases of illegal hunting of rhinos, 44 of illegal possession of rhino horns, 74 of illegal hunting of elephants and 35 of illegal possession of elephant tusks.
This year six cases have been registered - one of illegal hunting of rhino, two of illegal possession of rhino horns, one of illegal hunting of elephants and two of illegal possession of elephant tusks.
Shifeta said 222 suspects were arrested for rhino and elephant poaching last year. Of these 83 were Namibians and 17 Zambians. Eight Chinese and 14 Angolans were arrested.
The nationality of 100 suspects could not be ascertained. Shifeta said the number of foreigners arrested in these crimes could, therefore, be much higher.
Twenty-five of the Namibians who were arrested were charged with rhino poaching, 15 with illegal possession of rhino horns, and 23 with possession of elephant tusks.
A breakdown of the Zambians who were arrested shows that seven were arrested for illegal elephant hunting, two for rhino poaching, five for possession of elephant tusks and three for possession of rhino horns.
Five Angolans were arrested for possession of elephant tusks, six for hunting elephants, two for poaching rhinos and one for possession of rhino horns.
So far this year nine people have been arrested for these crimes – three Namibians, two Chinese, two Angolans and two from Botswana.
According to the minister 36 rhino horns were confiscated in 2016, along with 56 elephant tusks and 79 pieces of ivory.
In the first month of this year three rhino horns and 18 elephant tusks were confiscated.
Shifeta said there had been 10 successful prosecutions for rhino and elephant poaching. These included the case of four Chinese citizens convicted of trying to smuggle 14 rhino horns and a leopard skin out of Namibia in March 2014. They were sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment each last year.
ELLANIE SMIT
The majority of those arrested are Namibians, statistics indicate, while contrary to popular belief the majority of foreigners involved in poaching are Zambians and Angolans.
In an exclusive interview with Namibian Sun, tourism minister Pohamba Shifeta revealed the latest statistics pertaining to wildlife crime.
Last year 260 poaching cases were reported, involving the illegal hunting of elephants and rhinos and the possession of elephant tusks and rhino horns.
These consisted of 105 cases of illegal hunting of rhinos, 44 of illegal possession of rhino horns, 74 of illegal hunting of elephants and 35 of illegal possession of elephant tusks.
This year six cases have been registered - one of illegal hunting of rhino, two of illegal possession of rhino horns, one of illegal hunting of elephants and two of illegal possession of elephant tusks.
Shifeta said 222 suspects were arrested for rhino and elephant poaching last year. Of these 83 were Namibians and 17 Zambians. Eight Chinese and 14 Angolans were arrested.
The nationality of 100 suspects could not be ascertained. Shifeta said the number of foreigners arrested in these crimes could, therefore, be much higher.
Twenty-five of the Namibians who were arrested were charged with rhino poaching, 15 with illegal possession of rhino horns, and 23 with possession of elephant tusks.
A breakdown of the Zambians who were arrested shows that seven were arrested for illegal elephant hunting, two for rhino poaching, five for possession of elephant tusks and three for possession of rhino horns.
Five Angolans were arrested for possession of elephant tusks, six for hunting elephants, two for poaching rhinos and one for possession of rhino horns.
So far this year nine people have been arrested for these crimes – three Namibians, two Chinese, two Angolans and two from Botswana.
According to the minister 36 rhino horns were confiscated in 2016, along with 56 elephant tusks and 79 pieces of ivory.
In the first month of this year three rhino horns and 18 elephant tusks were confiscated.
Shifeta said there had been 10 successful prosecutions for rhino and elephant poaching. These included the case of four Chinese citizens convicted of trying to smuggle 14 rhino horns and a leopard skin out of Namibia in March 2014. They were sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment each last year.
ELLANIE SMIT
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