Rhino poaching

There are only 23000 rhinos remaining in the world. Namibia has become a stronghold for rhinos in Africa with the largest population of black rhinos and the second-largest population of white rhinos in all of Africa. BUT: Due to poaching, all rhino species in Namibia and worldwide are threatened with extinction. Since 2009 till 2024, 658 rhinos have been poached for their horns. If this trend is not stopped, the survival of the rhino is at great risk. More and improved, active rhino protection by specially trained wildlife protection teams is the most important weapon to prevent the impending extinction.​​​​​​​

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Elephant poaching

By focusing on active, physical protection of elephants by specially trained ranger, the poaching rate was reduced from 127 poached elephants in 2015 to "only" 8 in 2023. Nevertheless, it is important to maintain these protection measures even if rhino poaching numbers escalate. This, too, is only possible with more well-trained and motivated wildlife protection rangers.

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Bushmeat poaching

Bushmeat poaching is considered the greatest threat to African wildlife in general, as it affects all species - not just rhinos or elephants. Large animal fauna has been wiped out in most of the African continent and mostly by bushmeat poaching. 

Studies of bushmeat poaching found that poachers had more wealth than those that didn’t poach, suggesting poachers are motivated by money rather than necessity. Virtually all bushmeat poachers are economically motivated, selling 90% of their meat and keeping 10% for their own consumption. The main buyers are local markets and commercial butchers, who sometimes send out their own poaching teams. There are also criminal syndicates involved in bushmeat poaching, who do not shy away from using gun violence against wildlife protection rangers.

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Poaching with snares

Setting up wire snare traps is the cruelest method of bushmeat poaching. It is estimated that tens of thousands of animals in Africa, including Namibia, are illegally poached each year using wire snare traps, but the true magnitude of this silent killer is unknown. Snares are an indiscriminate poaching method and a key contributor to the disappearance of wildlife in general, including vulnerable and endangered wildlife in Africa. Species ranging from elephants to lions, antelope, zebra, giraffe and warthogs are killed or maimed, suffering a painful death.

One of the main duties of wildlife protection rangers is the searching for and destruction of wire traps.

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Big predator poaching

Bushmeat poaching also has dramatic consequences for Africa's iconic big cats, lion, leopard and cheetah, as well as for hyenas and the African wild dog, because the destruction of their prey, giraffe, warthog, antelope and zebra populations forces the predators to kill livestock and then be killed as "pests". This often happens by poisoning bait, which also kills countless other animals, including vultures, as "collateral damage". This has led to the populations of these predators collapsing in some places and their survival being threatened in the short or long term. This can be prevented in particular by combating bushmeat poaching and by actively taking action against big predator poachers by well-trained and motivated wildlife protection rangers.

Addionally, the increase in demand for lion parts in East Asia has resulted in higher pay for big cat claws, teeth and bones. This has incentivized the poaching of lions among local communities. As motives to kill lions become greater, the fight against poaching become even more essential.​​​​​​​​