Authorities vow tough action against poachers
Consequences could be lethal, police warn
Anti-poaching teams are working with local authorities to address a rise in poaching in Etosha National Park.
Oshikoto police regional commander Commissioner Teopolina Kalompo-Nashikaku has issued a stern warning to poachers, saying they risk their lives by engaging with armed anti-poaching units.
Without mincing her words, she warned that the authorities are committed to protecting the country’s fauna and flora and said poachers risk their own lives if they shoot at security personnel deployed to safeguard wildlife species.
She said the defence and environment ministries, along with the police, continue to collaborate in anti-poaching efforts, and while it is “extremely sad” when lives are lost during armed confrontations, the response units will act when fired at by poachers.
“You cannot shoot at people who are trained to shoot. You are undermining authority and we are not going to let it pass by. We will assist you in returning to your maker,” she said.
Kalompo-Nashikaku made the remarks last Wednesday at a briefing with Oshana governor Elia Irimari and constituency and traditional authority councillors on the fight against wildlife crimes in and around Etosha National Park.
She currently serves as the gold commander of the national park, a rotational position held for six months. Appointed in March, her term is set to end in September.
Finding solutions
She also expressed concern over an increase in wildlife poaching.
Over 30 rhinos were poached between January and June, and 42 people have been arrested in connection with these crimes.
“Among those arrested, a few are Angolans, and the rest are Namibians," she said, adding that most reported cases occurred either inside Etosha National Park or in nearby villages in the Oshana Region, where people hide before entering the park.
Kalompo-Nashikaku noted that because Oshana borders two traditional authorities – Ondonga and Uukwambi – and is a common area where poachers hide before entering Etosha, they approached the two authorities to collaborate on solutions to combat poaching.
“We want the cattle posts to coordinate with the security cluster for easy control and monitoring,” she said.
Uukwiyu-Uushona constituency councillor Andreas Amundjindi said some poachers have "gone back to their makers" as a result of clashing with the police.
“These poachers have intel within the park. There must be someone inside the park working with the poachers," Amundjindi said, questioning how the poachers are so well informed about the locations of rhinos and when to attack where there is no guard on the ground.
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Without mincing her words, she warned that the authorities are committed to protecting the country’s fauna and flora and said poachers risk their own lives if they shoot at security personnel deployed to safeguard wildlife species.
She said the defence and environment ministries, along with the police, continue to collaborate in anti-poaching efforts, and while it is “extremely sad” when lives are lost during armed confrontations, the response units will act when fired at by poachers.
“You cannot shoot at people who are trained to shoot. You are undermining authority and we are not going to let it pass by. We will assist you in returning to your maker,” she said.
Kalompo-Nashikaku made the remarks last Wednesday at a briefing with Oshana governor Elia Irimari and constituency and traditional authority councillors on the fight against wildlife crimes in and around Etosha National Park.
She currently serves as the gold commander of the national park, a rotational position held for six months. Appointed in March, her term is set to end in September.
Finding solutions
She also expressed concern over an increase in wildlife poaching.
Over 30 rhinos were poached between January and June, and 42 people have been arrested in connection with these crimes.
“Among those arrested, a few are Angolans, and the rest are Namibians," she said, adding that most reported cases occurred either inside Etosha National Park or in nearby villages in the Oshana Region, where people hide before entering the park.
Kalompo-Nashikaku noted that because Oshana borders two traditional authorities – Ondonga and Uukwambi – and is a common area where poachers hide before entering Etosha, they approached the two authorities to collaborate on solutions to combat poaching.
“We want the cattle posts to coordinate with the security cluster for easy control and monitoring,” she said.
Uukwiyu-Uushona constituency councillor Andreas Amundjindi said some poachers have "gone back to their makers" as a result of clashing with the police.
“These poachers have intel within the park. There must be someone inside the park working with the poachers," Amundjindi said, questioning how the poachers are so well informed about the locations of rhinos and when to attack where there is no guard on the ground.
– [email protected]
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