A total of 40 rhinos were poached last year in Namibia, while four elephants were killed, marking a significant decline compared with previous years.
The poaching figures were confirmed by Bennett Kahuure, director of wildlife and national parks. He said that so far this year only one rhino poaching case has been reported, with no elephant poaching incidents recorded.
“Overall, there has been a decline in poaching numbers over the past few years,” Kahuure said.
In
2024, Namibia recorded 81 rhino deaths at the hands of poachers.
Authorities arrested 77 suspects, 73 of whom were Namibian nationals.
According to a document submitted by Namibia to the 78th Standing Committee meeting of the United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in Geneva, the country’s poaching crisis peaked in 2015, when 97 rhinos were killed.
This was followed by 84 cases in 2018 and 94 poached rhinos in 2022.
Fourteen rhino horns were confiscated in 2024, compared to 21 in 2023.
Law enforcement also seized 15 firearms and impounded six vehicles linked to poaching activities.
Of the 77 suspects arrested that year, 59 were still in custody at the time of reporting, while 18 had been released on bail.
The majority of the arrested suspects were Namibian nationals, with four Angolan citizens allegedly linked to smuggling networks.
Hopeful figures
Elephant poaching has also shown a downward trend.
The Namibia National Wildlife Protection Report for 2024 recorded nine elephants poached and the seizure of 31 elephant tusks.
A total of 32 arrests were made in 2024 in connection with elephant poaching cases, largely involving the trafficking of ivory from outside Namibia.
Official figures show a steady decline in recent years. Eight elephants were poached in 2023, four in 2022, ten in 2021, 12 in 2020, 13 in 2019, 27 in 2018, 50 in 2017 and 101 in 2016.
