Veterans prepare a rhino for the process of ear notching and DNA sampling at Khama Rhino Sanctuary in Serowe, Botswana.(Xinhua/Koone Boikaego)
The rhino population of Botswana is under siege following two poaching incidents in one week.
GABORONE, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Botswana has issued an alert that the country's rhino population is under siege following two poaching incidents in one week.
Alice Mmolawa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism on Wednesday said a rhino was killed on Oct. 2, following a recorded poaching incident on Sept. 27 in the Okavango Delta.
"This poaching incident brings the number of rhinoceros poached this financial year alone from April 1, 2019, up to now to nine, an unprecedented number," said Mmolawa in Gaborone, the capital city of Botswana.
She said the increased poaching of rhinos is deeply worrying in a country that has over the last few years received rhinos in an effort to safeguard and revive rhino population.
The development comes as a huge loss for the country with a strict and strong anti-poaching policy, which the government has committed immense resources.
The government has committed to more efforts and mobilizing more resources to combat and eradicate the scourge. ■
