Namibia's rhino trust enhances anti-poaching efforts

A conservation organization Save the Rhino Trust is restructured to become an anti-poaching unit to counter massive illegal hunting in the Kunene region of northwestern Namibia.

The trust, a monitoring unit since 1983, is taking the move to counter poaching of Namibia's desert-adapted rhinos.

Organized poaching syndicates have been targeting Namibia's black rhinos over the past two years with eight killed so far, and Kunene region has seen a rise in rhino poaching. The black rhinos make 40 percent of Namibia's surviving rhino population.

Dudu Murorua, the trust's chairperson, said Namibia's renowned veterinarian Axel Hartman would take over as the the trust's chief operating officer next month.

Meanwhile, the trust has been working associated with the Ministry of Environment and Tourism to investigate some of its staff over the poaching incidents. Endi