WINDHOEK, Namibia
The number of endangered
rhinos poached in Namibia last year was the highest on record and almost twice
as many as the year before, officials say.
A total of 87 rhinos were
killed compared with 45 in 2021, official government data show.
Most were poached in Etosha,
Namibia's biggest national park, officials say.
Rhino numbers in Africa have
dropped significantly in recent decades to feed demand for rhino horn in China
and Vietnam.
Poachers killed 61 black and
26 white rhinos mainly in Etosha, where 46 rhinos were found dead, Ministry of
Environment, Forestry and Tourism spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said.
"We note with serious
concern that our flagship park, Etosha National Park, is a poaching
hotspot," Mr Muyunda said.
International criminal gangs
now use sophisticated equipment to track and tranquilise the animals before
hacking off the horn, leaving them bleeding to death.
Poaching in South Africa and
Botswana has led to wildlife teams sawing off the rhino horns in order to keep
them alive.
For many generations rhino
horn has been used in traditional Chinese medicine despite there being no
proven medical benefit.
Poaching is also being fuelled
by demand in Vietnam, where horns are displayed as a sign of wealth.
The most endangered is the
black rhino with just over 5,000 still alive.
However, elephant poaching in
Namibia has declined from a high of 101 in 2015 to four last year. - BBC
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