Scientific Services

RHINO & ELEPHANT SECURITY RELEASE (May 2010 – WWF Namibia) 

 Worldwide poaching of rhinoceros for their horn is at a 15 year high. All five rhino species, with distributions in Asia and Africa, have been severely affected, with some populations having been completely decimated in many countries. It’s an international crisis, with most rhino populations being in drastic decline. Closer to home in southern Africa, rhino populations have been slowly increasing under intensive management and security. However, in recent years our neighbouring countries have been extremely hard hit by a resurging poaching wave driven by market forces in the far-east. 

Similarly, the poaching of elephant for ivory is increasing. Central, East and West African countries are the most affected but Namibia and its neighbours are not immune to this threat.

Whilst Namibian rhino and elephant have not yet been exposed to this new wave of poaching, the Government is being proactive and actively bolstering its security capacity and deepening its intelligence network.

Namibia has been internationally recognised for its innovative conservation approaches and subsequent conservation successes. Two vital components of that innovation stand out: The ability to quickly adapt to changing circumstances and an ongoing emphasis on strong conservation partnerships, embracing rural communities, NGOs and strong international linkages. 

Namibia has achieved significant successes in conserving the indigenous black rhino. Severe poaching in the 1970s and early 1980s brought the rhino population of the Kunene Region to the brink of extinction. While some rhino from the North-West were translocated to Etosha National Park to ensure their protection, innovative approaches of working with local communities through a community game guard system rapidly reversed the trends in the region and stopped poaching in the area. A brief poaching flare-up in 1989 was quickly contained, again with active community support. Bold approaches such as de-horning rhinos to remove the incentive for poachers further discouraged poaching.  

Since Namibia's independence, the Ministry of Environment & Tourism (MET), working with local communities and NGOs, has succeeded in rebuilding the Namibian black rhino population. Through the Black Rhino Custodianship Scheme and a variety of other proactive measures, the MET has re-established black rhino in former ranges while increasing population numbers in existing strongholds such as Etosha National Park and other areas. Through its active security measures and excellent support network within rural communities, poaching has thus far been successfully contained in all areas.

In line with our pro-active approach and specifically in response to the resurging rhino poaching situation in our neighbouring countries, the MET recently held an intensive, 'Rhino and Elephant Security Workshop' - supported by the African Rhino Programme (WWF-ARP), WWF in Namibia and the ICEMA and SPAN projects.

The meeting brought together key Ministry staff from the Directorate of Parks & Wildlife and the Directorate of Scientific Services; staff from various projects housed within the Ministry; Interpol; the Protected Resources Sub-Division of the Namibian Police; Save the Rhino Trust (SRT); Integrated Rural Development & Nature Conservation (IRDNC); community conservation leaders; members of the Black Rhino Custodianship Scheme; and WWF in Namibia.  A number of highly experienced rhino and elephant security experts were brought in from neighbouring countries to share their experiences and intelligence information with the Namibians. In addition, representatives from international organisations (TRAFFIC and CITIES) who are knowledgeable about smuggling routes and the international trade were also present to share their knowledge and offer advice.

The excellent attendance underlines the close collaboration and information sharing that has become the hallmark of Namibian conservation all levels – local, national and international. This is vital in creating an extremely effective conservation network that is able to combat illegal activities. 

The first part of the workshop was focused on hearing about the new threats and modus operandi of the poaching networks operating in southern Africa and about the destination markets and trade routes.

 Sub-groups within the workshop then worked together to share specific local, national and international information and seek new ways to bolster the existing security measures and strengthen the intelligence network. The creative mix of expertise allowed the groups to identify security, legal or policy loopholes that the new wave of poaching networks are trying to use.  A particular strength for Namibia in countering this threat is the extremely strong community support that has been built up over the years by Namibia’s world leading Conservancy programme, and some new and innovative strategies were developed that would add strength to the existing intelligence network within communities.

Namibia is well-aware that current poaching of rhino and elephant is being carried out by a multi-tiered network of highly experienced, well funded and equipped, ruthless syndicates working with latest technology. Illegal elements within growing Asian communities in Africa, exploiting local contacts, are changing illegal trade dynamics and speeding up the pace of the international illegal trade in rhino horn and ivory.  Vietnamese nationals have been most frequently implicated and these networks are associated with a range of other crimes.

Namibia thus has had to develop an equally complex, multi-tiered approach to rhino and elephant management that includes local, national and international anti-poaching activities. Basic, on the ground monitoring and patrolling is supplemented with extensive intelligence networks amongst the rural community.  This is backed up by traditional law enforcement, active monitoring of the movement of goods and persons, the use of the latest law-enforcement technology, closer co-operation with the legal system and comprehensive databases that are linked internationally. 

The Namibian CBNRM programme, which has grown out of the early community game guard system that was initiated to stop rhino and elephant poaching in the North West in the 1980s, has become even stronger and is internationally recognised for its successes in rebuilding wildlife populations in communal areas. Today there are 59 registered communal conservancies covering over 16% of the country. Local communities are committed to the conservation of wildlife, limiting the ability of poaching syndicates to become active through local contacts. 

 The Black Rhino Custodianship Scheme of MET has built up a national network of rhino conservation, in which the government, communal conservancies and private landowners all work together to strengthen the conservation of one of Namibia's flagship species. 

Strong national and international collaboration between the Ministry, special police units, local communities, NGOs, the private sector (including the tourism and trophy hunting industries) and individual experts is building an even more effective counter-force to illegal activities. Sharing of security information and expertise with neighbouring countries and destination market countries is strengthening initiatives at the global level at which crime syndicates operate. We, the people of Namibia, are the solution to poaching.  We are determined not to let this Nation be stripped of one of our national icons for the selfish gain of a few individuals being in turn exploited by foreign forces.