WINDHOEK, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- Namibia has witnessed a decrease in the poaching of rhinos and elephants, while that of other animals like lions continue unabated, a government official said on Monday.
According to the Director of Marketing at Intelligence Support Against Poaching (ISAP) Tinus Hansen, game species poaching is becoming a problem through a much more formalized channel where full time poachers travel the gravel roads at night and shoot game which is then sold to specific butcheries in the main city centers.
"Permanent road blocks are ineffective in slowing down the transport of illegal meat for numerous reasons. At this stage, the main centers receiving poached meat are Windhoek, Khorixas, Kamanajab, Walvis Bay, and Outjo," Hansen said.
He added that other protected species that are the focus of poaching syndicates are lions, certain bird species and pangolins.
Recently, lions have been the victims of increases in poaching instances.
This was noticeable in 2017 in the Kruger National Park in South Africa, where lion poaching has seen a huge upsurge.
"Criminal demand for items such as lion teeth, bones and skin is on the rise. South African poaching trends tend to spill over into Namibia. What they suffer this year hits Namibia next year as often the same international syndicates are involved," Hansen added.
For the first time in years, Namibia recorded a decrease in the poaching of rhinos and elephants.
