‘emibia is making great progress in combating wildlife crime using
<s full array of strategic weapons, but the war is far from over. Our
-vestigative procedures and legal system must align even further
72 counteract the changing strategies of poaching and trafficking
syndicates who are quick to respond to Namibia’s adaptive law
=>forcement approaches. There is every reason to have confidence in
‘\\\\emibia’s commitment and integrated strategy to fight and prosecute
»\\dlife crime. Finally, every Namibian citizen needs to become fully
2ware of the severity of wildlife crime, so that we use our incredible
<ollective power to help the authorities crack down on those who
would dare to steal from us.
References:
Operation Blue Rhino: hes VERSE ee cau f
unit-nails-73-poachers2019-11-30/
2017 Namibia increased the penalties: pen
ma/163122/archive-read/NS25m-or-20-years-
Magistrate Clara Mwilima during her recent sen
Gamibian-comina/:
| Man Ginsu é
RHINO POACHERS CAUGHT DUE TO TIP-OFF FROM //HUAB
CONSERVANCY MEMBER
The //Huab Conservancy in the Kunene Region is home to some
af Namibia’s free-ranging black rhino, but until recently the
conservancy has struggled to generate income from its wildlife.
Due to its largely inaccessible location off the main tourism route
n southern Kunene, //Huab’s members have reaped few benefits
rom their wildlife in the past. This changed when Ultimate Safaris
established a lodge in the conservancy in 2016 and developed a
unique rhino tracking tourism product that employs conservancy
rhino rangers to monitor the rhinos and allows guests to view
them unobtrusively. Ultimate Safaris is thus demonstrating the
tangible value of rhinos to local people.
During June 2017 a member of the //Huab Conservancy noticed
some suspicious activity on the road north of Khorixas while
herding livestock. Knowing that these people might be on the way
to kill one of the black rhinos, he alerted the local authorities.
This tip-off led to the rapid deployment of police and MET rangers
to the area, where they found the suspects and arrested them.
They were armed and clearly prepared for poaching activities.
The driver who dropped them off in the area, and was to collect
them later, was lured back to the area, resulting in the arrest of
the driver and the impoundment of the vehicle. This was enough
evidence to open a court case against them. Criminal syndicates
will find it increasingly difficult to operate in areas where the local
people understand the value of their wildlife and know what to
do when they spot suspicious activities.
http://www.ultimatesafaris.na/about/journeys-under-canvas
A SUCCESSFUL REWARD
SCHEME CLAMPS DOWN ON
PANGOLIN TRAFFICKING
Bringing Namibian citizens on
board to fight wildlife crime
involves increasing their
awareness of the problem and
providing suitable incentives
for them to act. While the
crimes against rhinos and
elephants are well known,
and their value to the country
has been well publicised,
the pangolin has historically
received less attention than
it deserves. Pangolins are the
most trafficked animal in the world, and this illegal international
trade started affecting Namibia in early 2017 as cases of
pangolin trafficking increased to unprecedented levels.
To counter this new threat, the Ministry of Environment
and Tourism joined the Namibian Chamber of Environment
and other partners to set up a reward scheme to incentivise
Namibians to report pangolin trafficking. Cash rewards are
offered for information leading to the arrest of poachers, and
the reward amount is increased if the informant is willing to
testify in court. Since its inception in late 2017 up to January
2019 this scheme has led to 75 criminal cases being opened,
139 arrests, and the rescue and rehabilitation of 45 live
pangolins. This shows what can be achieved when we invite
ordinary citizens to participate in the war against wildlife crime.
http://www.n-c-e.org/sites/default/files/2019-02/
Pangolin%20saving%20scheme%20paying%200ff%20-%20
Environment%20-%20Namibian%20Sun.pdf
CONSERVATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT IN NAMIBIA 2019 = 17
b.