Lobito: The Angolan Hunters Association denounced on Tuesday the killing of three white rhinos on a farm in Cunene province. The incident occurred at Calivigui farm, located in the municipality of Cahama, where armed individuals infiltrated the premises, took staff hostage, and used AK-47 weapons to kill the animals.
According to Angola Press News Agency, Emanuel Louro, a member of the Association, reported that these rhinos were part of a conservation effort to repopulate the area. The demand for rhino horns, which fetch high prices on the black market, drives such poaching activities. Louro highlighted that criminal networks, primarily involving Chinese and Vietnamese citizens, are active in Angola, offering large sums for these horns and smuggling them out of the country.
Louro criticized the weak legislation in Angola concerning poaching, noting that offenders often evade justice. He expressed concern over the rampant illegal trade of rare animals, citing the example of deer being undervalued and sold cheaply. Recent changes in hunting regulations aim to align Angola's system with successful models in neighboring Namibia and South Africa, capitalizing on synergistic tourism.
Mario Ribeiro, president of the Angolan Hunters Association, stressed the need for strategic actions to combat poaching. Efforts include capturing traps, educating local communities with pamphlets on hunting regulations, and discouraging poaching of endangered species. Ribeiro emphasized the necessity of training inspectors and receiving support from national conservation bodies.
He urged collective action to address predatory hunting, warning that without government support, challenges will persist. Ribeiro identified the EN100 national road from Lobito to Eval Guerra as a critical area requiring attention in the fight against illegal hunting activities.
