Reward offered for Dorsland the rhino’s poachers

An intensive campaign to raise a N$1-million reward for information leading to the arrest of the poachers who killed a pregnant rhino in the Kunene region has gathered momentum, with more than N$800 000 raised by well-wishers.

The black rhino, known as Dorsland, was killed by poachers along with her calf – and their horns were taken.

Also lost was Dorsland’s unborn calf.

Kunene regional police commander commissioner Eric Clay says Dorsland was shot at the Doro Nawas conservancy over the weekend with an unknown firearm, and her horns, worth N$500 000, were stolen. No arrests have been made.

“Following an intensive fundraising campaign over the weekend, initiated on Facebook and fuelled by overwhelming public support, over N$800 000 has already been raised to fund a N$1-million reward for information leading to the arrest and successful prosecution of those responsible for the brutal poaching of Dorsland along with her calf, and unborn calf,” reads a statement from Tristan Cowley, the managing director of Ultimate Safaris.

This follows a pledge of N$100 000 from the Conservation Travel Foundation, supported by Ultimate Safaris, as well as a N$50 000 personal contribution from Cowley.

According to him, the vast majority of pledges have so far come from Namibians, “a clear demonstration of how deeply this tragedy resonates within our nation.”

He says the reward and the raising of funds, therefore, is to send a clear and powerful message that informants are more valuable than poachers.

“Poaching in the Kunene region will be met with a strong and united response, not only from law enforcement, but also from the people of Namibia, and especially from the Kunene communities and conservancies who protect the world’s largest population of free-roaming, critically-endangered black rhino,” Cowley says.

He says black rhinos are a cornerstone of Namibia’s conservation success and a vital driver of tourism in the Kunene region, sustaining thousands of rural livelihoods.

Timoteus Mashuna, who has been embroiled in a court battle over the reopening of Goantagab Mine which Ultimate Safaris strongly opposes, says he welcomes the initiative to offer a reward but is skeptical of the motive.

“It will be great if the poachers are apprehended, but I remain skeptical of the involvement of Ultimate Safaris and Tristan Cowley. I hope their fund raising initiative is genuinely meant to ensure that poachers are arrested and not to ensure that the unemployment level in Namibia remains unchanged and that the funds raised are not used to finance their court case against mining at Goatagab,” he says.

Cowley says those with information on the whereabouts of the poachers are advised to contact inspector Kapani on 081 397 1775, chief inspector Haihonya on 081 467 8211 or warrant officer Ngakuzevi on 081 342 9767.

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