Two carcasses of female black rhinos were discovered at two different private game farms in the Otjituuo and Otjiwarongo areas of the Otjozondjupa Region this week.
Namibian Police Force (NamPol) spokesperson in the region, Inspector Maureen Mbeha on Saturday said the police have launched extensive investigations in both cases.
She said during August this year, an adult female pregnant black rhino was shot and killed at a private game farm near Otjiwarongo.
“Both its horns were removed from the carcass, and we still don’t know the date it was shot and killed or the type of a hunting rifle which was used in the poaching,” said Mbeha.
However, since the animal was pregnant and it was about to deliver, the total loss of N.dollars 1 million has been attached to it, she said.
On 22 August this year again at another commercial game farm situated near Otjituuo in the Grootfontein district, a black female rhino was also shot and killed there by unknown poachers, Mbeha said.
Its large and small horns were all removed from the carcass when the farmworkers discovered the crime scene on Monday, she said.
An estimated loss of N.dollars 500 000 has been incurred in this poaching, and the police are hard at work in examining the types of firearms which were used or the number of suspected poachers who were involved in this case at Otjituuo, Mbeha said.
“So far no arrests have been made in connection with both matters, and police investigations continue,” she said.

The number of poached rhinos in 2022 has risen to a total of 48.

This figure includes three (3 )carcasses discovered in June and recently confirmed as poached after a thorough assessment in the Etosha National Park. We have unfortunately discovered two (2) more carcasses in the course of last week. Brings to a total of 20 poached in Etosha.

A total of 12 black rhinos were poached on custodianship farms and 16 white rhinos poached on private farms. A total of 32 poached rhinos are black and 16 are white.

We are facing this hurdle head on to ensure that we effectively fight poaching. As was noted before, poaching has become more prevalent in private farms as well as black rhino custodianship farms. We are busy implementing new measure across board to counter this surge. APU units in private farms are being strengthened, police and meft law enforcement official are been availed to assist private farmers with intelligence, law enforcement and patrols. We will also be availing the services of our helicopter for areal patrols in hotspot areas.

We want to assure the public that the ministry with its stakeholders will pull resources together in stopping this new surge of poaching. However, while we do so, we urge members of the public to remain vigilant and respite any suspected case of poaching and other wildlife crimes.