Since the 1980`s there has been increasing international response to the ongoing trade in rhino horns and the continuing decline of the world`s rhino populations. The primary aim of international efforts is to strive for complete world-wide cessation of the use of rhino horn, to a lesser extent to find acceptable medical substitutes for rhino horn and, until recently, to force states to destroy all horn stockpiles. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) is at the forefront of attempts to remove rhino products from world trade. The current policy objective of CITES and prominent western countries is to achieve a much reduced international rhino horn trade volume, but this could still result in rhino extinction. In China alone several million people still adheres to an ancient culture, relying on traditional medicines of which the ingredients often include compounds extracted from the rhino horn.

Illegal rhino poaching in Africa and Namibia

In Africa rhino are being killed by people at enormous personal risk for tiny rewards, but many destitute people and entrepreneurs regard these risks as acceptable. If the reward for illegal hunting increases even more people may become tempted. Together with the frustrating fact that illegal traffic of smuggled animal products continues to pass through Namibia en route to South Africa and overseas, the unresolved issues of land use and tenure are central to the problems facing rhino conservation.

It is internationally recognized that:

- Rhino horn is the most valuable natural renewable product in Africa
- Demand for these horns is likely to continue
- Law enforcement has not been sufficient to prevent killings and horn smuggling
- Currently illegal harvesting of horns in Namibia results in minor gains for a few individuals at the cost of the rest of society
- Current illegal harvesting practices are wasteful, but can be replaced by sustainable harvesting techniques

The MET`s conservation efforts

The goal of the Rhino Custodianship Programme in Namibia is to increase the numbers and range of subspecies Bicornis Bicornis within Namibia.

The MET promotes the redistribution of wildlife within Namibia to return species to their historical range as much as possible, and the restoration of the functional role of wildlife in local and national economies through various forms of wildlife utilization. Concerning the rhino, MET policy focuses on establishing new rhino populations in existing parks and reserves as well as on suitable communal land, transferring individual animals to private land for safe keeping, selling breeding nuclei to approved buyers, expanding anti-poaching efforts, and generating sustainable revenue for rhino conservation.

Long-term Goals

Long-term management goals for rhino conservation in Namibia are to:
1. Establish a long-term viable population of at least 2000 black rhino in a suitable habitat, and the same for 500 white rhino.
2. Develop a sustainable use programme for black and white rhino to advance and justify the above goal, preferable within the CITES environment.
3. Co-ordinate the protection and management of rhino in Namibia
The MET hopes to achieve this by emphasizing the improvement of security of all rhino populations, providing training for MET staff involved in enforcing the ban on illegal hunting, and the review of conservation and financial legislation to facilitate innovative conservation measures.

Possible conservation options

Future options for utilizing the Namibian rhino include, among others, the option some private landowners have taken, of converting their cattle farms to game ranches, contributing to rhino conservation efforts. The Namibian Government sees the state-controlled selling of rhino and rhino horns as a future source of conservation and development of revenue.

Legal provisions

Permit control applies to almost every aspect of rhino conservation and management, and contraventions in possession, trade and export can be punished by fines of up to N$ 200 000 or imprisonment for up to 20 years. Legal deterrents and law enforcement are potent protection components, and superb collaboration and support from the Namibian Police, through the Protected Resource Unit (PRU), has resulted in great success in the protection of rhino in Namibia. The most pertinent legislation in Namibia covering rhino protection, ownership, trade, use, transport, capture and hunting are the Nature Conservation Ordinance (Ordinance 4 of 1975 as amended) and the Controlled Game Products Proclamation (Proclamation AG 42 of 1980 as amended).

Rhino Custodianship

Namibia`s rhino conservation plan makes provision for an ongoing and adaptable project known as the Custodianship Scheme, to translocate black rhino unto farmland. In suitable conditions, and when security risks are minimal, black rhino from donor populations in Namibia becomes available periodically for translocation to private land. In translocation, more or less the following protocol is followed by the MET:
- MET makes a press announcement that it intends to place rhino unto private land and invites interested landowners to submit applications.
- MET personnel visits each applicant to rank the property and the management capability according to set criteria
- MET Rhino Advisory Committee makes recommendations based on inspection reports
- Landowners sign a mandatory Memorandum of Agreement with MET on delivery of the rhino.

A major strength of the Namibian Rhino Custodianship scheme is the stimulation of donor populations to achieve maximum growth (an example being the Etosha donor population), where rhinos are taken from the donor population and translocated to approved landowners. This is a major stimulant of population growth.

The Rhino Custodianship Scheme has farms in the Namibian regions of Erongo, Omusati, Kunene, Otjozondjupa, Khomas, and Hardap, while the Uukwaluudhi Communal Conservancy became a member of the Scheme in 2004.

Monitoring and identification

Thus far, the Custodianship Scheme in Namibia has proved very successful in increasing rhino populations. In these 6 regions there are currently 22 land units participating in the black rhino custodianship programme, covering an area totaling 352 300 ha. Rhino populations of the farms as well as in the parks are constantly being monitored, using various methods, depending on the terrain, the wardens` experience with various techniques, and available equipment.


Smaller rhino populations are ideally monitored by using any of-, or a combination of the following methods:

1. Waterhole counts, horseback patrols, tracking, regular vehicle patrols, aerial surveillance using light aircraft
2. Recording all positive sightings, including time, locality, activity, response to observer
3. Issuing of pocket identification guides to all anti-poaching, tourism and field staff
4. Preparing a set of identity photographs showing frontal and lateral views of each individual animal`s horns and ears, and updating these annually
5. Setting monitoring targets
6. Using permanent identification measures like ear-notches and microchips
7. Collecting blood and tissue samples from each individual animal at translocation
8. Immobilising all offspring at circa 2-3 years of age for marking and sampling.

Individuals can be identified by means of ear notches made according to a scheme when the animals are immobilized. Ear tags are no longer used as it almost always gets lost.
The picture below shows an example of an earnotch.

Microchip transponder implants are becoming popular. Each implant has an unalterable identity code which effectively, inconspicuously and safely marks the animal for life. Radio transmitters, placed within the horn (shown in the picture below-right), are used to identify and track the animals.
In future, a method called genetic fingerprinting will be used to reveal important information about each individual in a population. Furthermore, this technique can show which bull has sired which calf, and the degree of relatedness and inbreeding in a population. MET already keeps a small sample of tissue from every rhino captured, and urges private rhino owners to take part in this scheme

Contact us

The Rhino Custodianship Scheme can be reached at:

Ministry of Environment and Tourism
Directorate of Scientific Services
Private Bag 13306
Windhoek
Namibia

Contact persons:

1. Mr. Pierre du Preez
National Rhino Coordinator
PZN building, Northern Industrial Area
Windhoek
Tel: +264 61 2684 2551
E-mail:

2. Mr. Richard Fryer
Custodianship Scheme Manager
Schubert House
Windhoek
Tel: +264 61 237553
E-mail:

All pictures taken by Mr. O. Friede, Game Capture Unit, MET