Namibia has established the Black Rhino Association of Namibia (BRAN), a formal platform designed to unite the country's network of private and communal black rhino custodians. The association held its first Annual General Meeting in May 2026, bringing together stakeholders to strengthen conservation efforts.
According to the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, BRAN aims to coordinate anti-poaching efforts, share best practices in rhino management, and facilitate funding for custodians. The initiative builds on Namibia's successful community-based conservation model, which has helped increase the black rhino population from near extinction to over 2,000 individuals.
Black rhinos remain critically endangered, with poaching driven by demand for their horns in Asia. Namibia is home to the largest free-roaming black rhino population in the world, and the new association is expected to enhance protection through collaboration between government, private landowners, and local communities.
