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Namibian Wildlife Crimes article archive

This archive of published media articles about wildlife crime in Namibia aims to:

  • provide easy public access to published information and statistics
  • enable easy stakeholder access to articles
  • provide a comprehensive archive of wildlife crime reporting in Namibia

Public access to information is a vital component of ensuring community engagement in prevalent issues. Wildlife crime is one of the pressing environmental issues of our time.

Wildlife crime investigations are generally covert operations requiring utmost confidentiality to succeed. Investigations and prosecutions in complex cases may take months or even years to complete. For this reason, the information that can be released to the public without compromising cases is often limited. Nonetheless, the Namibian government strives to share as much information as possible with the public.

The Namibian media has welcomed this approach and regularly publishes statistics and feature articles on wildlife crime. These are entered into the database at regular intervals, creating a comprehensive archive of wildlife crime reporting in Namibia.

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Displaying results 1 - 50 of 2007
Friday, 17 March 2023
Hattingh E 2023. Zwei "Nashorn-Wilderer" festgenommen.

Zwei Männer wurden gestern gegen 09:00 Uhr in der Region Dordabis festgenommen, nachdem sie auf einer Farm zwei Spitzmaulnashörner, eine Kuh und ein Kalb, gewildert haben sollen. Die Verdächtigen waren im Besitz eines Jagdgewehrs und von 15 Kugeln, von denen drei bereits verwendet worden waren. Außerdem wurden zwei Nashornhörner gefunden. Die Nashörner haben einen Wert von jeweils rund 500 000 N$. Die Männer wurden wegen verschiedener Vergehen angeklagt, unter anderem wegen der Jagd auf geschützte Wildtiere und des Besitzes von nicht zugelassenen Waffen.

Friday, 17 March 2023
Hattingh E 2023. Twee 'renosterstropers' aangekeer.

Twee mans is gister omstreeks 09:00 in die Dordabis-omgewing in hegtenis geneem nadat hulle glo twee swartrenosters, ‘n koei en ‘n kalf, op ‘n plaas doodgeskiet het. Die verdagtes het ‘n jaggeweer in hul besit gehad, asook 15 koeëls, waarvan drie reeds gebruik is. Twee renosterhorings is ook gevind. Die waarde van die renosters is sowat N$500 000 per renoster. Die mans is aangekla vir verskeie oortredings, insluitende vir die jag van beskermde wild en omdat hulle in besit was van ongelisensieërde wapens. Die polisie se ondersoek duur voort.

Friday, 17 March 2023
Hattingh E 2023. Two 'rhino poachers' apprehended.

Two men were arrested yesterday around 09:00 in the Dordabis area after they allegedly poached two black rhinos, a cow and a calf, on a farm. The suspects had a hunting rifle in their possession, as well as 15 bullets, of which three had already been used. Two rhino horns were also found. The rhinos are valued at around N$500 000 each. The men were charged with various offences, including hunting protected wildlife and being in possession of unlicensed weapons. Police investigations continue.

Friday, 17 March 2023
2023. Two rhinos shot and poached in Dordabis.

The Namibian Police have arrested two men, aged 47 and 27, who allegedly shot and killed two black rhinos (a cow and a calf) on a farm in the Dordabis area, Khomas Region. According to Chief Inspector Elifas Kuwinga, spokesperson of the Namibian Police, the incident happened on Thursday, 16 March 2023, at about 09:00. It is alleged that the two suspects shot and killed two rhinos and were also found with a 375-calibre firearm, with 13 live cartridges and three spent cartridges. The rhinos are worth N$500 000 each. Two rhino horns were also found at the scene.

Friday, 17 March 2023
2023. Wildlife security guard killed two rhinos, then his accomplice to avoid sharing R1million loot.

The High Court in Polokwane has convicted and sentenced 36- year-old Bethuel Mdubane to 24 years effective imprisonment for an assortment of crimes including murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, and hunting and shooting two rhinos. Additionally, Mdubane was also sentenced for unlawful possession of stolen car, two counts of possession of ammunition, and three counts of unlawful possession of prohibited firearms.

Wednesday, 15 March 2023
2023. Man arrested for keeping lions on plot without permit.

A man was arrested for keeping lions on a plot in Dennydale Agricultural Holdings. Police arrested a 43-year-old man after he was found in possession of three lions, without a valid permit, on a plot in Dennydale Agricultural Holdings. Randfontein police spokesperson Sergeant Carmen Hendricks said police officers were acting on a tip-off when they made the arrests.

Tuesday, 14 March 2023
2023. Hippo poached at Zambezi.

The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism yesterday said they responded to a report about a Hippo that was found dead in the Muyako area, in a purported poaching incident. The Ministry's Spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said that upon close inspection by staff members, it was found that the hippo had a bullet wound, adding that it was poached the previous night. "When the team arrived, community members had already gathered in anticipation for the meat distribution exercise.

Tuesday, 14 March 2023
2023. 3 suspected poachers arrested with 6 elephant tusks in northern Tanzania.

Three suspected poachers have been detained by Tanzanian police after they were found in possession of six elephant tusks in the country's northern region of Manyara, police said on Saturday.

Tuesday, 14 March 2023
2023. Three nabbed for illegal possession of leopard skins.

Police has arrested three men for illegal possession of seven leopard skins in Victoria Falls.

Monday, 13 March 2023
Kooper L 2023. Two hippos poached at Muyako, Zambezi.

The Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism has launched an investigation into the poaching of two hippos in the Muyako area of the Zambezi region. This comes after the carcass of a hippo was on Sunday found by community members, who then alerted ministry officials Ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda on Monday said it is suspected that the hippo died as a result of a bullet wound, and that it was shot on Saturday night. He said this was the second hippo killed in the same way in the area this year, with the first incident reported in February.

Monday, 13 March 2023
2023. Man arrested with 2 rhino horns.

Last week, the South African Police Service in Piet Retief achieved a commendable result by arresting a 27-year-old man in possession of two rhino horns. The arrest came after members of the public brought information about the suspect’s alleged dealings to the attention of the police. Upon searching his vehicle, the police found two rhino horns hidden inside the bonnet and wrapped with black plastic. The fact that the local community is speaking out against wildlife crime is also a positive development.

Friday, 24 February 2023
Reiter C 2023. Wilderei gemeldet.

In der vergangenen Woche wurde ein 69-Jähriger im Dorf Iitatu in der Omusati Region im Besitz von zwei lebender Schildkröten ohne Genehmigung angetroffen. Der Mann wurde verhaftet und soll vor Gericht erscheinen. Am gleichen Tag sollen bekannte Verdächtige auf der Farm Moutonsvlei bei Klein Aub einer Ziege und einem Schaf die Kehle durchgeschnitten haben. Der Wert der Tiere mit mit 6 000 N$ angegeben. Sie wurden nicht festgenommen, da sie vom Tatort fliehen konnten.

Friday, 24 February 2023
Muonwa J 2023. Poacher in dock for shooting US$50K elephant.

A member of a poaching syndicate has appeared in court for allegedly gunning down a bull elephant valued at US$50 000.

Tuesday, 21 February 2023
2023. Botswana loses third of rhinos to poaching in 5 Years.

Botswana revealed on Monday that it suffered a huge spike in rhino poaching during five years through 2022, translating to about a third of its population of the endangered species. In all, 138 rhinos were slaughtered from 2018 to last year, Tourism minister Philda Kereng told parliament. This compares to two rhinos poached in the preceding five years from 2012 to 2017, according to official figures. Statistics that Kereng presented to parliament showed killings suddenly rose to seven in 2018, before spiking to 30 the following year.

Tuesday, 21 February 2023
2023. Besserer Schutz für bedrohte Nashörner.

Der Save The Rhino Trust (SRT) hat im vergangenen Jahr im Auftrag des Ministeriums für Umwelt, Forstwirtschaft und Tourismus (MEFT) seine Arbeit im Nyae Nyae-Schutzgebiet im Nordosten des Landes aufgenommen. Das Gebiet grenzt an den Khaudum-Nationalpark, in dem das MEFT nun mit Unterstützung des SRT hofft, den Schutz der Spitzmaulnashörner verbessern zu können. Für den SRT ist es eine positive Entwicklung: "Die Anfrage des MEFT, unser Rhino Rangers Programm zu verdoppeln, ist eine Anerkennung für den Erfolg des SRT in der Kunene-Region in den letzten vier Jahrzehnten.

Tuesday, 21 February 2023
Tendane S 2023. Crime in brief.

A hippopotamus valued at N$100 000 was killed at Sitinda farm in the Zambezi region on Saturday. According to the police's crime report, the hippo was shot for allegedly destroying the maize fields of the culprit on severa occasions. The suspect was in possession of a firearm and ammunition without a licence.

Tuesday, 21 February 2023
2023. Vietnam jails trafficker for 13 years over 10-ton haul of ivory, rhino horn.

A court in Vietnam on Tuesday sentenced a man to 13 years in prison for trafficking nearly 10 tons of endangered animal parts from Africa, including ivory and rhino horns, police said. The court in the central coastal city of Danang found Nguyen Duc Tai, 33, guilty of transporting elephant tusks, ivory, pangolin scales and lion bones from Africa to Vietnam in 2021, the police-run ministry of public security said. Trade in ivory is illegal in Vietnam but wildlife trafficking remains widespread.

Tuesday, 21 February 2023
Makhaye C 2023. Paradise in the crosshairs - bandits, elephant poachers threaten to kill ecotourism in KZN's Jozini.

For decades the area surrounding the serene and picturesque Jozini Dam and Pongola Nature Reserve has been a tourist mecca, drawing well-heeled local and international visitors keen on seeing nature at its best, including cruises to watch elephants grazing and to spot rare species. Luxury lodges and hundreds of workers depend on the viability of the local tourist attractions and a constant stream of high-spending visitors.

Tuesday, 21 February 2023
2023. WWF responds to South African rhino poaching numbers for 2022.

Transparency and regular communication about rhino numbers and rhino poaching are vital to understand the threat to our rhinos and finding the best ways to conserve them. The most recent rhino population numbers for Africa to the end of 2021, as released by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) last year, showed that white rhino numbers had continued to decline at around 3.1% per year and numbered just below 16 000 animals.

Tuesday, 21 February 2023
Thebe N 2023. Ivory dealer nabbed in police trap.

A 34-year-old Harare man has appeared before magistrate Dennis Mangosi charged with illegal possession of ivory. Author Edwin Kowe of Stone Ridge, was arrested on February 19, 2023 after being trapped by detectives from the Police Minerals Flora and Fauna Section who posed as potential buyers. One of the detectives pretended to be an ivory buyer, while the other team carried out surveillance as backup. The detective who was acting as the buyer phoned the accused person and lured him to Waterworks along Chiremba Road.

Tuesday, 21 February 2023
2023. Botswana loses third of rhinos to poaching in 5 years.

Botswana revealed on Monday that it suffered a huge spike in rhino poaching during five years through 2022, translating to about a third of its population of the endangered species. In all, 138 rhinos were slaughtered from 2018 to last year, Tourism minister Philda Kereng told parliament. This compares to two rhinos poached in the preceding five years from 2012 to 2017, according to official figures. Statistics that Kereng presented to parliament showed killings suddenly rose to seven in 2018, before spiking to 30 the following year.

Sunday, 19 February 2023
Swart M 2023. Two arrested for illegal possession of abalone.

In an unrelated incident, an integrated operation led to the arrest of two suspects in Gansbaai on Friday, 17 February 2023. The team set up a vehicle checkpoint on the R43 between Gansbaai and Stanford and stopped a suspicious minibus taxi. They searched the vehicle and the occupants and confiscated 3608 units of abalone. This has an estimated to have a street value of R1.4 million.

Saturday, 18 February 2023
Lam L 2023. Trading firm director gets jail over import of nearly 1,800 elephant tusks into Singapore from Africa.

Singapore: The director of a trading firm was sentenced to 10 months' jail on Wednesday (Feb 15) for importing 1,787 pieces of elephant tusks from Africa into Singapore, en route to Vietnam. The tusks of the endangered species weighed 3,480kg and were found in a 40-foot container at Pasir Panjang Scanning Station in March 2018. Vietnam national and Singapore permanent resident Dao Thi Boi, 40, had claimed trial to the charge under the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act. She was the director of VNSG Trading and Song Hong Trading and Logistics at the time. The shipment,…

Saturday, 18 February 2023
2023. Three nabbed in separate incidents for possession of abalone worth R1.4m and unlicensed firearm and ammunition.

Western Cape police have arrested three men in separate incidents for possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, and abalone.

Friday, 17 February 2023
2023. Mozambique: Two men charged with rhino poaching .

Maputo, 16 Feb (AIM) - Mozambique's Central Office for the Fight against Organised and Transnational Crime (GCCCOT) has filed charges against two poachers, currently being held in preventive detention. According to a GCCCOT press release, the two men (who were not named) were caught on 27 July last year in possession of four rhinoceros horns with an estimated value on the black market of 243,600 US dollars.

Friday, 17 February 2023
McCain N 2023. Fifteen-year sentence for man convicted of poaching-related offences in Kruger National Park.

The Skukuza Regional Court has handed a 15-year sentence to a man found guilty of poaching-related offences. He was found to have illegally entered the Kruger National Park on two occasions. The second time he entered the park illegally he was out on bail for the first charge.

Thursday, 16 February 2023
Vatileni E 2023. Reward offered for arrest of rhino poachers.

A group of private game farmers, Help our Rhino Now Namibia (HoRN.nam), is offering a reward of N$100 000 for information leading to the arrest of poachers who shot a rhino at a farm near Windhoek. HoRN.nam said in a media statement on Wednesday that rhino poaching has escalated in Namibia over the past 18 months. The organisation says this poses a real and critical threat to the well-being and future survival of Namibian rhino populations.

Thursday, 16 February 2023
2023. Vietnamese arrested at 4 de Fevereiro Airport for trafficking ivory concealed in candy wrappers.

A 35-year-old Vietnamese citizen was arrested at Luanda International Airport, accused of trafficking 3.6 kilograms of ivory, concealed in candy wrappers.

Detido vietnamita no Aeroporto 4 de Fevereiro por tráfico de marfim dissimulado em embalagens de rebuçados Um cidadão vietnamita, de 35 anos, foi detido no Aeroporto Internacional de Luanda, acusado de traficar 3,6 quilogramas de marfim, dissimulados em embalagens de rebuçados.

Thursday, 16 February 2023
2023. Vietnamese man arrested as he left Angola with more than three kilograms of ivory.

A Vietnamese citizen was detained in Luanda when he tried to embark for Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, with more than three kilograms of ivory, disguised in bags of sweets, reported the Criminal Investigation Service (SIC).

Thursday, 16 February 2023
Francke R-L 2023. Suspects transporting abalone worth R200 000 from Mthatha to Bloemfontein nabbed.

Two suspects are expected to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate’s Court on Friday on charges of illegal possession of abalone, reckless and negligent driving and assault on a police official.

Thursday, 16 February 2023
2023. Five arrested for possession of ivory.
Wednesday, 15 February 2023
Amutenja H-M 2023. MEFT employee nabbed for poaching.

The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has identified its employee Otto Jan Uirab as the suspect in the poaching incident that occurred last week. He is charged alongside Nedbank employee, Harold Xarageb, and two other suspects Gaeb Franklin and Veldskoendraer Neely. The suspects were arrested on suspicion of illegally hunting a blue wildebeest in the Dan Viljoen Park near Windhoek last week. They have since appeared in the Katutura Magistrate’s court. A case has been opened with the Otjomuise Police station and the suspects were remanded in custody until the May 2023.

Wednesday, 15 February 2023
Masilela B 2023. Field ranger who hid two alleged poachers in his vehicle released on R15 000 bail.

A field ranger who allegedly hid two suspected poachers in his bakkie, appeared at the Bushbuckridge Magistrate’s Court where he was released on R15 000 bail. Bright Mashele, 36, the field ranger and his two accomplice, Collen Mathebula, 32, and Casper Mlambo, 30, were arrested on Saturday when they tried to enter the Kruger National Park through Numbi Gate. According to provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, police received information about some individuals who were orchestrating to enter the park to commit crime.

Tuesday, 14 February 2023
Venter Z 2023. Vehicle used to transport pangolin skins forfeited to state.

The court has once again proved that those who illegally trade in exotic animals will feel the full brunt of the law. It ordered a vehicle which transported two pangolin skins forfeited to the State.

Tuesday, 14 February 2023
Nyamukondiwa W 2023. 30 poachers arrested, 15 guns recovered in Kariba.
Monday, 13 February 2023
Reiter C 2023. Streifengnu im Kofferraum.

Ein Mitarbeiter des Umweltministeriums, zusammen mit drei anderen Verdächtigen, wurde am vergangenen Dienstag an einer Straßensperre zwischen Daan Viljoen und Windhoek verhaftet, nachdem diese mit einem wohlmöglich illegal gejagten Streifengnu im Auto vorgefunden wurden.

An Environment Ministry official, along with three other suspects, were arrested last Tuesday at a roadblock between Daan Viljoen and Windhoek after they were found with what appears to be an illegally hunted blue wildebeest in their car.

Monday, 13 February 2023
2023. Nigeria's parks record less incidences of poaching. EnviroNews Nigeria

Dr Ibrahim Goni, the Conservator General (CG), of the National Park Service (NPS) on Sunday, February 12, 2023, in Abuja said that the country’s national parks now record less incidences of poaching. Goni, who made the disclosure in an interview, added: "To a reasonable extent our national parks as at of now, are facing less incidences of poaching." He attributed the low incidences of poaching in the parks to the renewed commitment of the Service to protect the critical resources as well as the issues of insecurity in parts of the country.

Monday, 13 February 2023
2023. KNP ranger and two others detained during floods with suspected poaching gear.

A ranger's job is never done. Even in the midst of the floods the Kruger National Park is currently experiencing, some rangers detained one of their own hiding two other individuals with poaching equipment in their possession.

Monday, 13 February 2023
Francke R-L 2023. Police arrest man for possession of endangered species, including pangolins.

A Lesotho national is expected to appear in the Ganyesa Magistrate’s Court in the North West on Monday for possession of endangered species. During the operation, a search was conducted in a house at Tlakgameng, leading to the discovery of two pangolins, two dead rock pythons and two dead monkeys.

Saturday, 11 February 2023
2023. Man jailed for five years for possession of rhino horns.

A 33-year-old man has been jailed for five years after being caught transporting rhino horns to Johannesburg on June 22 last year.

Friday, 10 February 2023
Nakale A 2023. MET official nabbed for alleged poaching.

An environment and tourism official was arrested with three other men for illegally hunting a protected blue wildebeest in the Daan Viljoen game park, west of Windhoek. They were arrested on Tuesday at the roadblock, west of Windhoek, leading to the game park. The suspects, including the official in uniform, were nabbed with a whole carcass of the wildebeest in the boot of their sedan. Blue wildebeest are classified as protected and endangered species in Namibia. The official is said to be stationed at the park as an assistant game ranger for the environment ministry.

Friday, 10 February 2023
Amutenja H-M 2023. Ministry official arrested for poaching.

An official from the Ministry of Environment and Tourism was amongst three other suspects that were arrested on suspicion of illegally hunting a blue wildebeest in Dan Viljoen Park near Windhoek. "The incident happened on Tuesday at a roadblock between Dan Viljoen and Windhoek. The Ministry condemns the incident particularly, the alleged involvement of a staff member," said the ministry’s spokesperson Romeo Muyunda. They were arrested on Tuesday at the roadblock, west of Windhoek, leading to the game park.

Thursday, 9 February 2023
Smit E 2023. MEFT-Beamter wegen angeblich Wilderei verhaftet.

Das Umweltministerium hat einen Vorfall verurteilt, bei dem einer seiner Mitarbeiter zusammen mit drei anderen Verdächtigen wegen des Verdachts der illegalen Jagd auf ein Streifengnu im Daan-Viljoen-Park in der Nähe von Windhoek festgenommen wurde. Der Sprecher des Ministeriums, Romeo Muyunda, sagte, der Vorfall habe sich am Dienstag an einer Straßensperre zwischen Daan Viljoen und Windhoek ereignet.

Thursday, 9 February 2023
Nakashole P 2023. Environment ministry staff member arrested for alleged poaching.

The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has announced the arrest of a member of staff, alongside three other people, who allegedly hunted a blue wildebeest at Daan Viljoen.

Thursday, 9 February 2023
Smit E 2023. Natuurbeamte vas oor beweerde stroping.

'n Beampte van die ministerie van omgewing en toerisme en nóg drie verdagtes is in hegtenis geneem ná hulle vermoedelik 'n blouwildebees onwettig in die Daan Viljoenpark naby Windhoek gejag het. Die woordvoerder van die ministerie, Romeo Muyunda, sê die arrestasies het Dinsdag by die padblokkade tussen Daan Viljoen geskied.

Thursday, 9 February 2023
Smit E 2023. MEFT official arrested for alleged poaching.

The environment ministry has condemned an incident in which one of its staff members was arrested, together with three other suspects, on suspicion of illegally hunting a blue wildebeest in the Daan Viljoen Park near Windhoek. The spokesperson of the ministry, Romeo Muyunda, said the incident occurred on Tuesday at a roadblock between Daan Viljoen and Windhoek.

Thursday, 9 February 2023
Omar O 2023. Mozambique swells the ranks of law enforcement teams fighting wildlife crime.

Two hundred kilogrammes of shark fin were seized at Maputo International Airport two weeks ago, but the case is still under investigation and the Director general of Mozambique’s National Administration for Conservation Areas (ANAC), Celmira da Silva said he could not provide further details on the subject. Integrity Magazine tried to question who owned the cargo as well as its origin and final destination, but without success.

Thursday, 9 February 2023
Mahlokwane J 2023. Barbara Creecy says no rhinos killed in Pretoria parks last year.

The parks and reserves in Pretoria did not lose a single rhino in 2022, said Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Barbara Creecy.

Thursday, 9 February 2023
Zwinoira T 2023. Zimbabweans implicated in regional rhino poaching surge.

Zimbabweans have been implicated as chief architects of a recent spike in rhino poaching in South Africa. The South African Department of Correctional Services identified the Zimbabwean poachers as Nhamo Muyambo, Francis Chitho, Trymore Chauke, Lubuyo September, Abraham Moyane, Simba Masinge and Bennet Kwamle. International Rhino Foundation (IRF) communications director Christopher Whitlatch said: "Zimbabwean rhino poachers have been involved in major illegal activities in South Africa.

Wednesday, 8 February 2023
Hlati O 2023. WWF concerned about transnational organised crime targeting iconic rhinos.

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) says the transnational organised crime networks targeting large conservation areas across Southern Africa remain a serious concern. The WWF was reacting to the 2022 rhino poaching statistics which saw a 40% decline compared to 2021 in the Kruger Park and other national parks across the country.

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