JUST IN: Rhinos poached in Etosha

WINDHOEK, 21 JUN (NAMPA) – The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has announced the redeployment of Retired Commissioner Ndahangwapo Kashihakumwa as head of the Wildlife Protection Unit to the Etosha National Park with immediate effect.
Kashihakumwa’s redeployment is one of the measures by the ministry to ensure that security adjustments and strategies are implemented without fail.
Minister of Environment Pohamba Shifeta at a media conference in Windhoek on Monday said the ministry has moved to make security adjustments and to close any loopholes in Etosha National Park to ensure that wildlife is no longer killed by poachers.
Shifeta was briefing the media on developments following the discovery of 11 rhino carcasses which were found in the park some two weeks ago.
“Due to the safety and security of our animals, we are not able to give specific details on this. However, I warn those attempting to involve themselves in wildlife crimes and in particular poaching, that we will leave no stone unturned to apprehend them and to bring them to justice. We will not relent in ensuring maximum protection of our iconic species in the flagship Etosha National Park and indeed elsewhere in the country,” Shifeta cautioned.
Last week, two of five suspects who attempted to kill rhinos in the Etosha National Park were apprehended by an anti-poaching unit that was tracking a rhino.
The minister added that investigations are at an advanced stage to apprehend the remaining three suspects, whose identities are known to the authorities.
Another suspected poacher was injured and arrested by ministry officials in the Mahango Core area of the Bwabwata National Park, who were on regular patrol and laid an ambush after they discovered the fresh carcass of a giraffe in a snare wire.
The injured suspect was identified as a 40-year-old male male who is receiving medical attention at a hospital in Rundu. He will be charged for contravening the Nature Conservation Ordinance No. 4 of 1975, for illegally hunting a specially protected game species.