Browsing by Author "Moongela, Ephraim Auhamba"

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    Conservation of endangered species in Namibia: An investigation of factors contributing to the poaching of rhinos in the Etosha National Park
    (University of Namibia, 2025) Moongela, Ephraim Auhamba; Shaanika, Theophilia
    Rhino poaching remains a critical conservation and security challenge in Southern Africa, threatening the survival of rhino populations and undermining conservation efforts. While extensive research has been conducted on wildlife poaching at the global and regional levels, there is a significant gap in understanding the specific socio economic, legal, and governance-related factors contributing to rhino poaching in the Etosha National Park (ENP), Namibia. This study aimed to fill this gap by investigating the key drivers of rhino poaching, assessing the weaknesses in existing conservation measures, and proposing effective policy recommendations to mitigate the crisis. The study was underpinned by Routine Activity Theory to explain the motivations behind poaching and Environmental Governance Theory to frame the effectiveness of conservation policies and law enforcement strategies. A qualitative research strategy was employed, focusing on in-depth thematic analysis. The study population comprised employees under the Directorate of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) within the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) as well as business and middle-aged individuals residing within a 150 km radius of ENP. Non probability and snowball sampling techniques were used to identify key informants, resulting in 18 in-depth interviews from an initial target of 20 respondents. The findings reveal that economic desperation, high black-market prices for rhino horns, corruption and bribing within law enforcement agencies, and the exploitation by criminal syndicates are the primary factors driving poaching in ENP. Additionally, weak law enforcement and legal loopholes enable persistent poaching, as inconsistent penalties fail to deter offenders. The study further identified a lack of comprehensive intelligence-sharing mechanisms among regional and international stakeholders, which exacerbates the challenge of controlling the illicit wildlife trade. To mitigate rhino poaching, the study recommends strengthening legislative frameworks to impose harsher penalties, enhancing community-based conservation programs to provide sustainable alternative livelihoods, and integrating advanced technology, including drones, real-time GPS tracking, and CCTV surveillance, into anti-poaching strategies. Furthermore, fostering international cooperation and intelligence-sharing can play a crucial role in disrupting the supply chain of illicit wildlife products. This study contributes to the existing body of knowledge by bridging the gap in localized research on rhino poaching in Namibia, offering a multidisciplinary perspective that integrates criminology, conservation science, and policy analysis