In Namibia, 28 rhinoceroses have been killed since the beginning of the year, including 19 in its flagship national park, Etosha, a popular tourist destination.
Of the 19 rhinoceroses that were spared from the carnage in Namibia, 10 were discovered during special operations aimed at dehorning them. This operation aims to deter poachers, who exploit Asian demand by selling these horns after killing the animals.
The Namibian Ministry of the Environment emphasizes the importance of Etosha as a conservation stronghold for these endangered species and promises an urgent assessment to strengthen protection measures.
In 2022, 87 rhinoceroses were killed in Namibia, compared to 45 in 2021, according to the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism.
Namibia is home to more than one-third of the world's black rhinoceroses, and Etosha National Park hosts the largest population of black rhinoceroses, according to Save The Rhino. The organization estimates there are about 6,000 black rhinoceroses and about 15,000 white rhinoceroses remaining.