WINDHOEK, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Namibia saw a continued downward trend in rhino and elephant poaching last year after stepping up patrols and sharply increasing fines, the government said on Thursday.
Citing intensified intelligence operations by authorities and collaboration between the government and the private sector, environment ministry spokesman Romeo Muyunda said 30 rhinos had been poached last year compared with 50 in 2019 and 79 in 2018.
Only 11 elephants were poached in 2020 compared with 13 a year earlier.
"The reduction is attributed to many factors, one of them is increased patrols by our staff," Muyunda said.
Collaborative efforts between the police, central intelligence, members of the public, civil society and the private sector had also helped turn the tide against poachers.