The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) on Wednesday made it categorically clear that the hunting of the black rhino it is availing will not be taking place at the Etosha National Park.

“The ministry does not allow trophy hunting in Etosha National Park, it has never been done, nor will it ever be done,” MEFT Chief Public Relations Officer, Romeo Muyunda said.

This was to elaborate on a statement issued by the MEFT on Monday, which said Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) registered companies, owned by or having in their employment a Namibian professional hunter (big game) registered with MEFT are invited to submit their written financial offers for the sustainable hunting of a black rhinoceros before or on 21 August 2023.

MEFT has one aged post-reproductive male black rhinoceros that will be available for sustainable hunting during the current hunting season which will be ending in November 2023.

Muyunda stated that written financial offers for the sustainable hunting of the black rhino should be in sealed envelopes deposited in a box at the MEFT headquarters.

He noted that rhinos just as any other wildlife species in the country, are a resource that, according to the Namibian Constitution and conservation principles, must be utilised to benefit the country.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency