Poaching fines to increase to N$25 million

The National Assembly yesterday approved an amendment to the Nature Conservation Ordinance to increase fines related to elephant and rhino poaching from the current N$200 000 to a maximum of N$25 million.

The period of imprisonment for convicted rhino or elephant poachers would be increased to a maximum of 25 years, up from 20 years.

These changes are a milestone for the minister of environment and tourism, Pohamba Shifeta, who has long campaigned for harsher penalties for illegal hunting of protected and endangered species.

The amendment bill provides for an increase of fines related to all other specially protected species from the current maximum of N$20 000 to N$10 million, and prison sentences of from five to 10 years.

The amendment would increase the maximum fine related to all protected species from the current maximum of N$4 000 to N$500 000, or a prison sentence of four to five years. The maximum fine for illegal hunting of all other species would be increased from N$2 000 to N$500 000, or a prison sentence of five years, up from two years. Shifeta said the new fines were based on studies and comparisons with penalties in neighbouring countries.