Stiffer penalties for wildlife crimesThe environment ministry has vowed to strengthen its collaboration with law enforcement agencies in tackling poaching. More poaching incidents reported While the police have been making headway against poachers, the relevant laws are being amended to ensure heavier sentences for those convicted of wildlife crimes.Last week ten suspects were arrested for poaching and illegal possession of protected wildlife products.
These arrests came shortly after the fifth phase of the anti-poaching operation in Etosha National Park ended.
The operation lasted from 6 June to 31 August. During that time 15 suspected poachers were arrested.
Major-General James Tjivikua, Deputy Inspector-General for Operations at NamPol, shared the latest anti-poaching news, saying that three rhino horns, seven unlicensed firearms, 34 rounds of ammunition as well as one vehicle and a rifle silencer had been confiscated.
He said an aerial count in July and August found 33 rhino carcasses in Etosha and ballistic tests confirmed that 25 of the animals had been shot by poachers. He said DNA samples will be cross-checked against the 14 rhino horns that have been confiscated this year.
In the Palmwag area six rhino carcasses were discovered during an aerial count.
Three other firearms that were confiscated were referred for ballistic testing and one suspect was arrested for being in the possession of an unlicensed firearm while three other suspects were arrested for being in the possession of an elephant tusk, Tjivikua said.
In the latest incidents four suspects were arrested on Sunday when they were about to enter the Etosha National Park for illegal hunting of rhinos. According to the Ministry of Environment and Tourism these suspects were heavily armed and the police and other stakeholders acted swiftly and professionally to avoid bloodshed during the arrest.
On Friday four suspects were arrested after a black rhino was poached at Erindi Game Reserve.
Also last week Thursday, two suspects were arrested at Rundu for the illegal possession of rhino horns.
Environment minister Pohamba Shifeta commended the latest arrests and said if Namibia continues on this path it will be able to break the syndicates involved in poaching.
According to Shifeta the arrests were made possible by the cooperation of the public and other stakeholders.
Shifeta said the ministry will strengthen its efforts in effective crime prevention and law enforcement through coordinated and integrated clusters of activities such as security planning, monitoring and adaptive management, a strong and effective presence on the ground, and dedicated investigation units that focus on criminal and poaching syndicates and organised crime.
“We will further strengthen our collaboration with the police, army, judiciary, intelligence service, communities, farmers and all other relevant stakeholders and continuous training and capacity building of staff members and those involved in this operation and wildlife crime prevention,” said Shifeta.
ELLANIE SMIT