Poaching of the Namibian Black Rhino

Only three rhinos have been killed in the country this year, an impressive feat considering that it has one of the largest black rhino populations in the world. The exact number remaining in the wild cannot be disclosed in order to protect them, but the population number is 'reasonably stable,' although the animal is considered critically endangered.
The numbers of rhinos killed per year has been slowly decreasing -- in 2015, 95 rhino deaths were reported compared to 60 in 2016 and only 27 in 2017.
Pohamba Shifeta, Minister of Environment and Tourism, has claimed to reduce poaching cases this year by over 50%. Given these statistics, this goal does not seem infeasible.
According to Shifeta, rhino (and elephant) commercialization has resulted in huge financial incentives for people to poach-- Namibia has a quite large black market for this beautiful animal that is spurring hunting.


Black Rhino, Etosha National Park

Black rhino populations are down by 97% since 1960 -- in 1993, only 2,300 individuals were left in the wild, and by 2011, three black rhino species were declared extinct.
98% of the remaining black rhinos are concentrated in four countries: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Namibia. We should feel quite privileged to (hopefully) have the opportunity to see an animal that our progeny very well may not have a chance to meet as well. The Save the Rhino Trust,
established in 1982, is working to preserve this glorious animal through conservation and, controversially, tourism.

Fun Fact: Ground up rhino-horn is popularly said to be a cure for cancer, despite it being of almost the exact same composition as your finger nails.

By Michelle Howard, 2/24

References:
http://www.etoshanamibia.info/spot/black-rhino/
https://www.newera.com.na/2018/02/21/namibia-aims-at-reducing-poaching-by-50-percent/
https://www.ietravel.com/blog/black-rhino-conservation-namibia