Seven elephants, 19 rhinos poached since January – ministry
The Ministry of Environment and Tourism has recorded 26 poaching incidents since January, according to the ministry’s spokesperson Romeo Muyunda this week.
According to the statistics, seven elephants and 19 rhinos were poached since January. In May, the ministry recorded 18 incidents in which eight animals were killed.
Muyunda said the poaching incidents were recorded from mainly private and custodian farms while six poaching incidents were recorded in the national parks namely Etosha and Waterberg.
Last year, a total of 57 rhinos and 26 elephants were poached while 120 suspected poachers were arrested.
The ministry is currently lobbying for harsher punishments for those found guilty of poaching. Last year, the ministry established an Anti-Poaching Unit to help curb poaching. (Xinhua) .
