 Reference Base  Rhino poaching in Namibia from 1980 to 1990 and the illeg... |
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Martin, E.B., 1993. Rhino poaching in Namibia from 1980 to 1990 and the illegal trade in the horn. Pachyderm 17: 39-51, figs. 1-5, tables 1-5
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| Location: |
Africa - Southern Africa - Namibia |
| Subject: |
Distribution - Records |
| Species: |
Black Rhino |
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Waterberg Plateau Park is relatively new, having been created in 1972. It is only 40,500 hectares in size and consists mainly of a plateau. Most of the Park is covered with a nutrient-deficient Kalahari sand which supports a deciduous broadleafed woodland.
The average rainfall is 450 mm a year, significantly higher than western Etosha. There were no black rhinos in the Park, however, until 1989, when 17 were brought in from Etosha and 10 from Damaraland. Unfortunately five died in the same year. One cow fell off a cliff, another female died in a boma following recapture after escaping from the Park, two young males perished from fight injuries, and one male died from stress after only a month in the Park. Further difficulties arose in February 1991 when the first black rhino was poached. A Herero, who earlier had broken into the tourist camp restaurant and had stolen various items, reentered Waterberg and shot an adult female with one bullet from a 9 mm pistol. Ten days later, he returned to the Park and took the horns, before the Park authorities had found the carcas, The police were called in and about two weks later the criminal was arrested (Peter Erb, Researcher, Waterberg Plateau Park, pers. comm.).
In order to prevent more rhino poaching, the Park authorities have increased foot patrols within Waterberg. Several ex-soldiers were transferred to the Park to improve the rhino monitoring. They usually go out for five-day foot patrols. The Park also now employs six trackers who work on foot or on horseback to monitor the movements of the rhinos. They carry radios, but not firearms. Often a ranger will accompany them. Informant money is available for intelligence gathering outside the Park as well, and contacts with the surrounding farmers are being improved.
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