Public tip-offs to expose rhino poaching is growing

Yesterday, Thursday, 22 September marked World Rhino Day. The Intelligence Support Against Rhino Poaching (ISAP) shared its excitement at the increase in environmental awareness amongst the Namibian public at large.

The ‘Blow The Horn On Rhino Poaching’ campaign launched on 20 April this year by the Ministry of Environment & Tourism (MET); Namibian Police (NAMPOL); Intelligence Support Against Poaching (ISAP), and Namibia Breweries Limited (NBL) – a subsidiary of the Ohlthaver & List (O&L) Group – contributes significantly to environmental awareness in Namibia according to the founder of ISAP, Fritz Kaufmann.
Kaufmann: “The number of leads that we have received on the 55555 number and the ISAP app over the past five months is a clear indication of the growth in people’s awareness of the environment and its worth.” He went on to say that some tip-off cases of poaching were referred to the Ministry of Environment & Tourism which is currently under investigation.
NBL Managing Director, Wessie van der Westhuizen, emphasised the value of the rhino to the local tourism sector: “Tourism is a major contributor to job creation in Namibia, and has the potential to create many more jobs – which is exactly what we need in our quest to fight poverty. Apart from the peace and stability which makes Namibia a safe tourist haven, ot-her key factors driving Namibian tourism are our natural heritage and wildlife, of which rhinos are a major attraction.”
Kaufmann concluded by saying that taking care of the environment is each and everyone’s responsibility. “All of us need to take hands and embrace this initiative as a collective effort in preserving the future sustainability of our country and its wildlife for future generations to appreciate and enjoy.”