WINDHOEK, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- In efforts to curb poaching, the Namibia Ministry of Environment and Tourism is busy with plans to re-organize an air wing section within the ministry which will make patrols easier and more effective.
At a press conference held Wednesday, environment minister Pohamba Shifeta said that his ministry is trying to intensify both ground and aerial patrols thus they will fix the air wing that they have currently and start patrols.
The ministry already does aerial patrols but according to Shifeta, flying using a helicopter is very expensive that they do not really cover big areas.
He emphasized that they had already contracted pilots who will soon start flying in Etosha and Babatwa National Park where most poaching incidences are reported.
The country has experienced unprecedented levels of poaching over the years with 24 rhinos having been poached in 2014 and 8 in 2015, while 34 rhino carcasses were discovered in 2016 with 24 reported so far this year.
In the north-eastern region of Namibia, 91 elephants were poached in 2015 compared to 78 in 2014 while in 2016, 101 elephants were poached.
