N$1 Million Reward Launched to Hunt Down Dorsland Rhino Poachers

N$1 Million Reward Launched to Hunt Down Dorsland Rhino Poachers. The brutal killing of Dorsland, a pregnant black rhino, and her calf in Namibia’s Kunene Region has sparked national outrage and an urgent fundraising campaign aimed at securing justice. Dorsland, a cornerstone of Namibia’s black rhino breeding population, was found slaughtered with her horn removed, alongside her calf, whose horn was also taken.

Authorities confirmed that Dorsland, who had been translocated from Etosha National Park in 2009, had successfully given birth to eight calves over the years. Her loss, along with her unborn calf, represents a devastating setback for conservation efforts in the region — one already battling relentless poaching pressure.

In response, the Conservation Travel Foundation, working closely with the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, has launched a nationwide appeal to raise N$1 million as a reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of those responsible.

The Foundation has already committed N$100,000 towards the fund, while Ultimate Safaris Namibia’s Managing Director and Co-Founder, Tristan Cowley, has personally pledged an additional N$50,000. These contributions aim to motivate members of the public to come forward with credible leads that could bring the perpetrators to justice.

Namibia, known for its strong wildlife protection record, faces increasing threats from poaching syndicates targeting its rhino population for the illegal horn trade. Conservationists warn that every incident of poaching not only erodes years of progress but also endangers the survival of the critically endangered species.