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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 51
Tuesday, 2 April 2024
Moser K 2024. Enormer Anstieg der Wilderei.
Namibia ist in den letzten Tagen von mehreren Fällen der Nashornwilderei heimgesucht worden. Sowohl im Etoscha-Nationalpark als auch auf privaten Farmen häuften sich in der vergangenen Woche die Funde getöteter Nashörner. Wie das Umweltministerium mitteilte, ist die Zahl gewilderter Nashörner im laufenden Jahr 2024 somit auf 28 gestiegen. "Es ist besorgniserregend, dass 19 Nashörner im Etoscha-Nationalpark gewildert wurden, von denen 10 bei Enthornungsaktionen im März entdeckt wurden", so Romeo Muyunda, Sprecher des Ministeriums.
Wednesday, 27 March 2024
Moser K 2024. Wildstropers se Nemesis.

In kamoefleerdrag, swart stewels en ’n semi-outomatiese wapen in sy holster, is Marcus Jacobs soggens reg vir aksie. Wat dalk na ’n militêre operasie klink, is in werklikheid die daaglikse roetine van ’n man met ’n missie: die beskerming van bedreigde wild teen stropers. Jacobs is die hoofbestuurder van Namibia Wildlife Protection (NWP), ’n private sekuriteitsmaatskappy wat bedreigde wildspesies in Namibië teen stropers beskerm. Dit sluit in "hoë teikenspesies" soos renosters en olifante. "Ons kan nie meer ons kosbare spesies sonder wapens beskerm nie.

Wednesday, 27 March 2024
Moser K 2024. NWP ernstig oor bewaring.
Namibia Wildlife Protection se veldwagters ontvang opleiding in onder meer die hantering van wapens, taktiese bewegings en spoorsny. Namibia Wildlife Protection rangers receive training in, amongst others, weapons handling, tactical movements and tracking.
Wednesday, 20 March 2024
Moser K 2024. Namibia Wildlife Protection führt Anti-Wilderei-Markt an.
Die AZ hat das führende Anti-Wilderei-Unternehmen in Namibia, Namibia Wildlife Protection (NWP), begleitet, und in Erfahrung gebracht: "Es besteht eine große Nachfrage nach Anti-Wilderei-Einheiten in der namibischen Farmbranche und ein massiver Markt für Anti-Wilderei-Dienstleistungen." Das sagt Salmon Vermaak, der Gründer und Direktor von Namibia Wildlife Protection. Er entschied sich, sich auf Nashörner und Elefanten zu spezialisieren. Inzwischen beschäftigt er über 200 Ranger auf 700 000 Hektar privatem Farmland.
Saturday, 17 February 2024
Moser K 2024. Namibia warns of rising pangolin trafficking on World Pangolin Day.
Namibia's Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism issued a warning on World Pangolin Day, exposing the extent of illegal trafficking and poaching activities targeting pangolins.
Tuesday, 6 February 2024
Moser K 2024. Pangolinschmuggler festgesetzt.
Die Polizei hat erneut eine Verhaftung wegen illegalen Handels mit Schuppentier-Produkten vermeldet. Eigenen Angaben zufolge setzten sie zwei Männer angolanischer Staatsbürgerschaft fest, die im Besitz von zwei Pangolin-Häuten und 57 Pangolin-Schuppen waren. Sie wurden am vergangenen Freitag bei Outapi festgenommen, nachdem sie die Produkte zwei verdeckten Polizisten zum Kauf angeboten hatten. Police have again reported an arrest for illegal trafficking in pangolin products.
Friday, 12 January 2024
Moser K 2024. Diebstähle bei Farmen um Outjo.

Bei Outjo mehren sich weiterhin die Vorfälle von Kriminalität auf Farmen. Wie Rolf Wagner und Erika Zamzow von der Farm Moselle gegenüber der AZ berichteten, haben Unbekannte im vergangenen Dezember Solarinstallationen und Pumpen von fünf Wasserstellen der Farm gestohlen. Die Farm arbeite eng mit der Anti-Wilderei-Einheit Nyime zusammen, die die Diebe "über fast 30 Kilometer bis zur Teerstraße Outjo-Khorixas verfolgt" hätten. Die Diebe seien nicht gefasst, aber nahezu alle gestohlenen Teile sichergestellt worden.

Thursday, 21 December 2023
Moser K 2023. Sorge um Schuppentiere.

Das namibische Umweltministerium ist beunruhigt über eine akute Zunahme der Wilderei von Pangolinen in Namibia in den letzten Monaten. "Das Ministerium ist erfreut zu beobachten, dass zwischen dem 1. September und dem 30. November 2023 mehr Verdächtige im Zusammenhang mit Schuppentierhandel verhaftet wurden. Wir sind jedoch besorgt, dass dies auch auf einen Anstieg der Verbrechen an Schuppentieren hinweisen könnte", so Romeo Muyunda, Sprecher des Ministeriums, in einer Mitteilung.

Friday, 24 November 2023
McCain N 2023. Locking horns with crooks: Wildlife crime on the rise in Southern Africa, driven by poaching in SA.

The consequences for local ecosystems and communities are serious, [including the] deterioration of natural capital, social stability and cohesion; extinction of animal species; and erosion of sustainable economic development. South Africa is home to the world's largest rhino population and is a key source for the illicit supply chain. In the first six months of this year, 231 rhinos were killed in South African game reserves. Of these, 143 were in KwaZulu-Natal.

Monday, 25 September 2023
McCain N 2023. Pangolins, rescued from poachers, are being given a second chance in SA game reserves.

After weeks of being kept in cramped spaces, deprived of food and water, many pangolins rescued from the illegal wildlife trade don't survive. But those who survive are given a second chance at some of South Africa's private game reserves, including &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal. Since 2019, &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve has successfully reintroduced several pangolins onto its property, with a number of them having bred and produced a second generation of these endangered animals.

Monday, 17 July 2023
McCain N 2023. To stop rhino poaching, deal with rangers in the pay of syndicates, says wildlife group.

Rangers at South African game reserves have been implicated in supplying information to rhino poachers. This is one of the forms of corruption that the Wildlife Justice Commission says is fueling wildlife crime. However, SANParks says it is implementing measures to reduce corruption, including a polygraph testing system.

Monday, 3 July 2023
McCain N 2023. Hawks make arrest after theft of 50 rhino horns from North West stockpile.

The Hawks have arrested a man in connection with the theft of 51 rhino horns. The horns were stolen from a stockpile in the North West. The man is expected to appear in court on Monday to face a charge of business robbery.

Saturday, 1 July 2023
McCain N 2023. How do you get 50 stolen rhino horns out of SA? Coffee or corruption, say experts, or maybe as mugs.

Fifty rhino horns stolen from a stockpile in the North West will likely leave South Africa as beads, mugs, or souvenirs, experts have said. The stockpile was stolen in the early hours of Monday morning from the North West Parks and Tourism Board in Mahikeng. Reports suggest the robbers evaded security measures, alarms, security cameras and bypassed the locking mechanism of the vault. Experts have speculated that the rhino horns may already be on their way to Asian markets, based on insights into how wildlife crime syndicates operate.

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, 17 November 2022
Chilengue R 2022. Five years without elephant poaching in Mozambique's Gorongosa National Park.

No elephant has been killed by poachers in five years in the Gorongosa National Park, located in the central Mozambican province of Sofala. This information was provided on October 20, 2022 in Maputo by the head of the Department of Conservation in the National Park, Ângelo Levi, during a debate on the theme The Challenges of Conservation of Animal and Forest Life, promoted by Nedbank Mozambique, as part of the commemorations of World Animal Day.

Monday, 10 October 2022
Moser K 2022. Südafrikanische Syndikate an Nashornwilderei in Namibia beteiligt.

Nach Angaben von Nashornschützern sind anscheinend grenzübergreifende Syndikate an der Nashornwilderei in Namibia beteiligt. Während auf dem afrikanischen Kontinent die Zahlen der Nashornwilderei insgesamt sinken, verzeichnet Namibia seit einigen Monaten beunruhigend viele Fälle. Laut dem Direktor des Save the Rhino Trust, Simon Uri Khob, zeigen Berichte, dass Syndikate von Nashornwilderern aus Südafrika in Namibia agieren und es vor allem auf kommerzielle Farmen absehen. Das berichtete das US-amerikanische internationale Nachrichtenportal VOA.

Monday, 26 September 2022
McCain N, Lekoma N 2022. Rhino poaching hits private game reserves in the pocket.

Private game reserves are buckling under the costs of keeping rhinos safe from poachers. This as the trend shows poachers have set their sights on private reserves. More than 250 rhinos were poached in the first half of the year.

Thursday, 22 September 2022
Moser K 2022. Weltnashorntag: Rhinos müssen geschützt werden.

Heute ist Weltnashorntag: Ein Tag, der einerseits an die Faszination und Schönheit der grauen Riesen erinnert - aber auch an ihre Gefährdung und Schutzbedürftigkeit angesichts zahlreicher Bedrohungen weltweit. In Afrika geht die Population der Nashörner laut Umweltstiftung WWF insgesamt jährlich um drei Prozent zurück. Es werden jedes Jahr hunderte Nashörner wegen ihres Horns getötet; in Südafrika sind die Tiere besonders gefährdet. Der internationale Handel mit Nashorn-Hörnern ist zwar verboten.

Saturday, 27 August 2022
McCain N, Lekoma N 2022. Rhino conservation groups call for cross-border enforcement as poaching numbers rise after Covid-19.

Rhino conservation groups say a collaborative, cross-border approach is needed to stop poaching. South Africa lost 259 rhinos to poaching in the first half of the year. Private game reserves are increasingly targeted by poachers, forcing them to increase security measures.

Tuesday, 16 August 2022
Moser K 2022. Wilderei bedroht auch Hyänen.

Unter den Opfern der Wilderei im südlichen Afrika wird den meisten nicht zu allererst die Hyäne einfallen. Eine Studie zeigt, dass die Folgen der Drahtschlingenwilderei für die Population der Tüpfelhyäne bisher stark unterschätzt wurden.

Among the victims of poaching in southern Africa, the hyena will not come to mind for most. A study shows that the consequences of wire snare poaching for the spotted hyena population have been grossly underestimated.

Saturday, 23 April 2022
McCain N 2022. Four bust at North West mall trying to sell pangolin for R250 000.

Four people have been arrested for trying to sell a pangolin for R250 000. They were arrested at a North West mall while attempting to find a buyer. The pangolin was found in their car and taken to safety.

Friday, 22 April 2022
McCain N 2022. 4 men arrested in connection with separate Kruger National Park poaching incidents.

Four suspected poachers have been arrested. Two were found in the Kruger National Park on Monday and the other two were arrested on Tuesday. This week, two other men were sentenced to 19 years in prison after they were arrested for poaching.

Friday, 25 February 2022
McCain N 2022. Poachers handed effective 19-year sentence for killing two rhinos.

Two rhino poachers have been sentenced to an effective 19 years' imprisonment for a 2019 poaching incident in the Kruger National Park. The Regional Court in Skukuza in Mpumalanga sentenced Micheal Chauke, 57, and Americo Mathonsi, 59, on Thursday. The men were found to have killed two rhinos on 22 May 2019, said police spokesperson Colonel Donald Mdhluli.

Friday, 18 February 2022
Moser K 2022. Welttag der Schuppentiere.

Sie sind faszinierend, selten und oft das Ziel von Wilderei und Schmuggel - Pangoline, auch bekannt als Schuppentiere. Sie sind das einzige geschuppte Säugetier und ihre Spezies, von der es acht Unterarten gibt, ist über 60 Millionen Jahre alt. Morgen, am 19. Februar, ist Weltpangolintag, um auf die hohe Gefährdung dieser beeindruckenden Tierart aufmerksam zu machen. Der Mensch ist dabei die größte Bedrohung: Schuppentiere sind die meist geschmuggelte Säugetierspezies weltweit, vor allem da ihre Schuppen in Asien als traditionelles Heilmittel verwendet werden.

Wednesday, 2 February 2022
Smith J-M 2022. Skoolhoof en vrou met twee renosterhorings gevang.

Nadat hy sewe maande agter tralies deurgebring het omdat hy met onwettige renosterhorings in sy besit betrap is, is 'n skoolhoof van die Zambezistreek vry op borgtog ná ’n suksesvolle appèlaansoek by die hoërhof in Windhoek.

After spending seven months behind bars for being caught with illegal rhino horns in his possession, a Zambezi school principal is released on bail following a successful appeal to the Windhoek High Court.

Monday, 8 November 2021
McCain N 2021. Poachers handed heavy sentences after being found with rhino horns.

Two rhino poachers have been sentenced to an effective 16 years' imprisonment each. The men were arrested in February when rangers from the Lower Sabie and Crocodile Bridge sections of the Kruger National Park reacted after three armed suspects were seen entering the park by crossing the border between South Africa and Mozambique, said police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala.

Friday, 22 October 2021
McCain N 2021. Five arrested for allegedly poaching Western Cape succulents.

Five men have been arrested in the Western Cape in connection with the illegal possession of more than 5 600 succulents. The arrests were the result of an integrated operation between the police,  Malmesbury Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit and Cape Nature, said police spokesperson Sergeant Luqmaan Adams on Thursday. "The suspects were arrested after they were stopped and searched on the N7 close to Vanrhynsdorp.

Thursday, 21 October 2021
McCain N 2021. Three poachers get an effective 35 years behind bars for killing 3 female rhinos.

Three men accused of rhino poaching have each been sentenced to an effective 35 years in jail. They were found in possession of rhino horn valued at R1.5 million. The accused were found to have killed three female rhinos in 2018.

Tuesday, 28 September 2021
Moser K 2021. Namibië vaar goed met renosterbewaring: Stropery steeds 'n bedreiging.

Die Internasionale Renosterstigting (IRF) het sy jaarverslag oor die toestand van renosterbevolkings wêreldwyd gepubliseer en Namibië is geïdentifiseer as die land met die grootste witrenosterbevolking. Die situasie van renosters in Afrika en oor die hele wêreld is egter kommerwekkend. Die aantal witrenosters op die Afrikavasteland het die afgelope jaar weens stropery afgeneem. Met 'n huidige bevolking van ongeveer 18 000, het dié getal die afgelope dekade met 12% afgeneem.

Friday, 24 September 2021
Moser K 2021. Namibia schützt Nashörner gut.

Die internationale Nashornstiftung (IRF) hat seinen jährlichen Bericht zum Zustand der Nashornpopulationen weltweit veröffentlicht und Namibia als Land mit der größten Population von Breitmaulnashörnern ausgewiesen. Allerdings sei die Situation der Nashörner sowohl in Afrika als auch weltweit besorgniserregend. Die Zahlen der Breitmaulnashörner auf dem afrikanischen Kontinent sind im vergangenen Jahr aufgrund von Wilderei geschrumpft. Mit etwa 18 000 Individuen ist die Population im vergangenen Jahrzehnt um 12 Prozent gesunken.

Friday, 11 June 2021
Moser K 2021. Mit Radioaktivität gegen Wilderer.

Nashornwilderei ist in Afrika wieder zu einem großen Problem geworden. Angesichts steigender Fallzahlen und wachsender Sorgen haben Wissenschaftler in einem Pilotprojekt nun einen neuen Ansatz gewählt: Ein mit Radioaktivität versehenes Horn ist ein zu großes Risiko für Wilderer.

Rhino poaching has become a major problem again in Africa. In view of the increasing number of cases and growing concerns, scientists have now chosen a new approach in a pilot project: a horn provided with radioactivity is too great a risk for poachers.

Wednesday, 8 January 2020
Smith J-M 2018. Suburban women tackle robbers.

An 80-year-old Chinese man who has lived in Namibia for more than 17 years was granted N$180 000 bail in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court last week, after he was arrested for being in illegal possession of one rhino horn and 60 pieces of raw elephant tusks, a leopard head skin and one cheetah hide.

Tuesday, 6 November 2018
Smith J-M 2018. Calls for legal horn trade.

The Namibia Chamber of Environment has made a call for the legalisation of trade in rhino horn. Calls to legalise rhino horn trade in Namibia are growing louder in an effort to save the species from annihilation, particularly after China partly lifted its already weakly implemented 25-year ban on the use of rhino horn and tiger bones in traditional medicines. In a letter to members and affiliates last week, Namibia Chamber of Environment (NCE) CEO Chris Brown warned that the demand for animal products such as rhino horn, ivory, pangolin scales, tiger and lion bones will…

Monday, 15 October 2018
Smith J-M 2018. Namibia calls for review on wildlife trade ban.

Namibia's environment minister Pohamba Shifeta has urged for a review on the blanket ban on the trade of wildlife products, including rhino horns and ivory, in order to better curb the poaching epidemic threatening the survival of high-value species. Speaking at the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference in London last week, Shifeta told delegates Namibia believes that "banning any trade in products will not necessarily achieve the outcome of stopping the demand and illegal trade. This has not been successful with alcohol, drugs and indeed, rhino horn, pangolin scales and ivory…

Monday, 17 September 2018
Smith J-M 2018. Three men arrested for rhino horns.

Police are clamping down on poachers, with two police busts leading to the arrest of an alleged poaching gang found in possession of rhino horns and another man attempting to smuggle ten elephant tusks. Police at the Divundu police checkpoint arrested two men driving a white BMW in the early hours of Thursday morning after they were found in possession of three rhino horns. They were identified as Liebelo Erick Manja (31) and Aldrian Masule Musisanyani (41), and both were charged with possession of controlled wildlife products.

Tuesday, 18 April 2017
Smith J-M 2017. Kandjii granted bail, remains behind bars.

Gerson Kandjii (51), who is facing multiple charges in four separate criminal cases, was granted N$2 500 bail by the Windhoek Regional court in Katutura on Wednesday. The bail was granted in a case of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, in which he was arrested in December last year. Magistrate Johannes Shuveni postponed the case to 22 May.

Monday, 3 April 2017
Smith J-M 2017. Kandjii court cases continue: Gobabis poaching case postponed to May.

The poaching case against Gerson Kandjii (51) and four co-accused charged with killing rhinos on a Gobabis farm in December has been postponed to May. The five men remain in custody. Kandjii, a former Brave Warriors physiotherapist, made another appearance before the Gobabis Magistrate's Court on Friday on poaching charges, following three months behind bars after his arrest in late December.

Monday, 27 March 2017
Smith J-M 2017. Lawyers dispute evidence in rhino case: ‘Not    a clear-cut case of possession’.

The lawyers of two Chinese nationals arrested for possession of rhino horns in January say their clients should be granted bail because the case against them is deeply flawed and would likely not lead to a conviction.

Wednesday, 1 March 2017
Smith J-M 2017. Kandjii on cross-country court spree.

Rhino-poaching accused Gerson Kandjii and his five co-accused did not enter a plea before the Okahao Magistrate’s Court on Monday after their lawyer failed to make an appearance. Kandjii, 51, along with David Stephanus, 35, Karunga Martin, Hinu Lucky, Daniel Nghidinwa and Kakuva Tjeparu were arrested in November 2014 and charged with poaching four critically endangered black rhinos in Etosha National Park.

Tuesday, 21 February 2017
Smith J-M 2017. Multi-million fines for wildlife crimes.

The Ministry of Environment and Tourism yesterday tabled a bill for an amendment to the Nature Conservation Ordinance to increase fines related to rhino and elephant poaching from the current N$200 000 maximum penalty to a maximum penalty of N$25 million.

Monday, 6 February 2017
Smith J-M 2017. Rhino wounded by poachers dies.

A young rhino cow that was shot multiple times by poachers at a farm near Gobabis in December, has died of her wounds.

Wednesday, 25 January 2017
Smith J-M 2017. Fourth poaching suspect nabbed: No bail for David Stephanus.

A fourth suspect implicated in last month's Gobabis rhino poaching case, in which two white rhinos were killed and two critically wounded, was denied bail yesterday. David Stephanus (35) appeared before the Gobabis Magistrate's Court on charges of illegal hunting of specially protected game, possession of an unlicensed firearm, illegal possession of ammunition and illegal possession of game meat.

Monday, 23 January 2017
Smith J-M 2017. Four more rhino horns seized: Two Chinese, two Namibians arrested.

Undercover police operations last week led to the arrest of two Namibians near Outapi and two Chinese nationals in Windhoek for illegal possession of two rhino horns in each case. A joint operation lasting most of last week between Namibian intelligence units, the Namibian Police Protected Resource Unit (PRU) and City Police led to the raid on Thursday night of the Eros flat rented by the two Chinese, during which two rhino
horns wrapped in aluminium foil as well as a cache of weapons and ammunition were confiscated and the two men arrested.

Friday, 13 January 2017
Smith J-M 2017. Elephant poaching up, rhino down.

While the poaching spotlight is intensely focused on rhino in Namibia, official poaching statistics released by the environment ministry this week show that rhino poaching declined in 2016 while elephant poaching doubled compared to 2015. In total, 216 black and white rhinos have been killed over the past four years, while 266 elephants have been killed by poachers since 2013. According to official figures released by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism this week, poachers killed 63 black and white rhinos in 2016, compared to 91 killed during the previous year and…

Wednesday, 11 January 2017
Smith J-M 2017. Kandji and Co remain behind bars: Bail denied in rhino poaching case.

The case of three men accused of brutally killing two white rhinos and wounding two others on a farm near Gobabis in December has been postponed to 31 March. Gerson Uakaerera Kandjii (51), a former Brave Warriors football team medic, and his two co-accused, Domingo Justice Moma (32) and Erwin Tjiteere (37), appeared before the Gobabis Magistrate’s Court yesterday after a prison transfer from Windhoek last week.

Thursday, 5 January 2017
Smith J-M 2017. Poaching suspect Kandjii behind bars again.

Four of the five suspects in a rhino-poaching case at Gobabis in December have been arrested. Former Brave Warriors football team medic Gerson Uakaera Kandjii – previously accused of rhino poaching and murder - is again behind bars after he and three other suspects were arrested for the killing of two white rhinos in the Omaheke Region in late December.

Tuesday, 11 October 2016
Smith J-M 2016. Hope for the pangolin.

Although pangolins are already protected in Namibia, the Cites decision will raise awareness of this critically
endangered animal.

Tuesday, 19 July 2016
Smith J-M 2016. Rhino-horn trio remain behind bars.

Bail was denied to three accused rhino poachers who appeared before the Otavi Magistrate’s Court yesterday on charges of rhino poaching and illegal possession of three rhino horns. Tjihange Japyangula, Tjingee Kaukamburua and Tjambira Paulus are each charged with one count of hunting of specially protected game and one count of possession of controlled game products.

Thursday, 30 June 2016
Smith J-M 2016. Black rhino slaughter uncovered.

Three carcasses of black rhinos were discovered in the Uukwaluudhi conservancy situated between Oshakati and Kamanjab last week on Thursday.

Tuesday, 28 June 2016
Smith J-M 2016. Questions about bail for rhino suspects.

Two apparently well-connected businessmen accused of smuggling rhino horns have been released on bail.

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