Poachers hit Indongo's farm again
The number of rhinos killed by poachers this year has risen to five after two more carcasses were found on the farm Okanenampanti belonging to businessman Frans Indongo.
Environment ministry spokesman Romeo Muyunda yesterday confirmed these figures to Namibian Sun and said two rhino carcasses were found on Okanenampanti on 17 March. In January, a white rhino carcass without horns was discovered at the farm near Otjiwarongo, which is the location of the Frans Indongo Lodge. One of the carcasses discovered this month was still fresh while the other carcass was old, said Muyunda. All the horns had been removed. The carcasses were of a black rhino and a white rhino. No arrests were made and investigations continue. Environment minister Pohamba Shifeta said he suspected that it was an inside job, since it was difficult to gain access to the farm.
Another reason for the poaching on the farm could be poor management.
He pointed out that the old carcass discovered on 17 March was of a rhino killed last year already.
“This is poor management. You must count your animals weekly and make sure they are marked. If they do not appear at the waterhole you must attempt to search,” the minister said.
He said he suspected that someone working on the farm or living nearby was providing information to poachers.
The carcasses at Indongo's farm were discovered only days after the carcass of a black rhino calf was discovered at Kliprivier in the Grootberg area.
Rangers from the ?Khoadi-//Hôas Conservancy who were patrolling the area found the carcass on 15 March. Its horns were missing.
The fifth poaching victim was a white rhino that died in February from wounds sustained in December last year in an attack by poachers on a Gobabis farm.
Shifeta said no rhinos had been killed in national parks so far this year and it seemed poachers had shifted their attention to private farms.
“Criminals are shifting because of the effectiveness of our security forces in the parks,” he said.
Therefore, the ministry had come up with a plan involving rhino owners.
Last year, poachers killed 59 rhinos in Namibia. In 2015 they killed 95, 56 in 2014 and nine in 2013.
Extinction is looming for Africa's rhinos. It is estimated that only 5 000 black rhinos are left, and about 20 000 white rhinos.
ELLANIE SMIT
Environment ministry spokesman Romeo Muyunda yesterday confirmed these figures to Namibian Sun and said two rhino carcasses were found on Okanenampanti on 17 March. In January, a white rhino carcass without horns was discovered at the farm near Otjiwarongo, which is the location of the Frans Indongo Lodge. One of the carcasses discovered this month was still fresh while the other carcass was old, said Muyunda. All the horns had been removed. The carcasses were of a black rhino and a white rhino. No arrests were made and investigations continue. Environment minister Pohamba Shifeta said he suspected that it was an inside job, since it was difficult to gain access to the farm.
Another reason for the poaching on the farm could be poor management.
He pointed out that the old carcass discovered on 17 March was of a rhino killed last year already.
“This is poor management. You must count your animals weekly and make sure they are marked. If they do not appear at the waterhole you must attempt to search,” the minister said.
He said he suspected that someone working on the farm or living nearby was providing information to poachers.
The carcasses at Indongo's farm were discovered only days after the carcass of a black rhino calf was discovered at Kliprivier in the Grootberg area.
Rangers from the ?Khoadi-//Hôas Conservancy who were patrolling the area found the carcass on 15 March. Its horns were missing.
The fifth poaching victim was a white rhino that died in February from wounds sustained in December last year in an attack by poachers on a Gobabis farm.
Shifeta said no rhinos had been killed in national parks so far this year and it seemed poachers had shifted their attention to private farms.
“Criminals are shifting because of the effectiveness of our security forces in the parks,” he said.
Therefore, the ministry had come up with a plan involving rhino owners.
Last year, poachers killed 59 rhinos in Namibia. In 2015 they killed 95, 56 in 2014 and nine in 2013.
Extinction is looming for Africa's rhinos. It is estimated that only 5 000 black rhinos are left, and about 20 000 white rhinos.
ELLANIE SMIT
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