Namibia released rhino & elephant poaching statistics for 2022! [update]

update (30 January 2023): According to an update on high-value species poaching in Namibia, the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism (MEFT) announced that 87 rhinos were poached in 2022, including 61 black rhinos and 26 white rhinos. 15 rhinos were poached on rhino custodianship farms, another 25 on white rhino private farms, and 46 in Etosha National Park. The four elephants, that Namibia lost to poaching activities, were killed in the Zambezi Region (2), the Kavango West Region (1) and the Kunene Region (1). 

The Namibian Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) has released the rhino and elephant poaching numbers for 2022. According to the figures, Namibia lost 77 rhinos and four elephants in the last year, compared to 45  rhinos and 10 elephants that lost their lives to poaching activities during 2021. The rhino poaching statistics of 2022 is the third highest recorded since 2013.
In 2022, a total of 43 rhinos were poached in Namibia, while 61 were killed in 2019, 55 in 2017, 66 in 2016, 56 in 2014 and 9 in 2013. 12 elephants were poached in Namibia in 2020, while 13 elephants were killed by poachers in 2019, 27 in 2018, 50 in 2017, 101 in 2016, 49 in 2015 and 78 in 2014.

Namibia is home to a third of the entire remaining population of back rhino on the planet and the second largest white rhino population in the world after South Africa. The country also has the largest population of free-roaming black rhinos as well as the largest population of black rhinos in protected areas.

Namibia: National Parks are open to visitors! [update]

update (20 April 2020): Namibia's national parks will be closed for the duration of the lockdown until 05 May 2020 in compliance with the state of emergency declared by the President in reaction to the coronavirus pandemic.

Namibia's Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MET) has confirmed that the country's National Parks are open for business for people who still want to visit despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the presidential directive to all government workers and the private sector to temporarily operate from home. According to MET spokesperson, Romeo Muyunda, employees of the Ministry in the National Parks "are following all the measures that were put in place by the state – no gatherings of more than 10 people – in addition to all the other activities that were discouraged and other preventative measures". [src.]
The Park Rangers in Namibia's National Parks are listed under "critical services" by the Government and are therefore continuing to fulfill their duties as usual, while MET office staff are attending to work from home.