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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 - 10 of 10
Wednesday, 31 January 2024
South African Police Service (SAPS) 2024. Three suspects fatally wounded in a shootout with police.

Three suspects were shot and fatally wounded in a shootout with police in the early hours of Wednesday, 31 January 2024. Police received intelligence that a group involved in serious crimes including murders committed in the Inanda area were hiding at the Lungelani Informal Settlement in La Mercy. A team comprising of various police disciplines including members of the Hawks descended on the location. Realising that they were surrounded, the suspects opened fire at the police and a shootout ensued.

Thursday, 1 June 2023
Dickie G 2023. Vulture surveillance system alerts Zambian park to poachers.

Satellite-tagged vultures uncover two suspected poisoning incidents near Kafue National Park. Conservation groups alongside Africa Parks and Zambia's Department of National Parks and Wildlife have been using a myriad of tools to protect Kafue's wildlife, including deploying some 40 anti-poaching patrol teams. One of the more innovative approaches is tagging white-backed and hooded vultures with satellite trackers to quickly alert wildlife managers of poached or poisoned carcasses.

Tuesday, 28 June 2022
Matarise M 2022. Zim poaching levels go down.

Owing to effective conservation methods, wildlife poaching has significantly decreased in Zimbabwe. This was a result of robust anti-poaching systems, coupled with increased patrols and the use of modern technology. Senior area manager for Mana Pools National Park Edmore Ngosi reiterated that poaching levels had gone down significantly over the past five years. "With interventions from the government and conservation partners, we are happy to say that we are on top of the situation as we have seen poaching levels decrease in the entire landscape".

Sunday, 15 May 2022
Ontebetse K 2022. US almost absolves Botswana security agencies for spike in rhino poaching.

The United States has not decided on adopting an official position on claims that corruption within Botswana security agencies contributes to the rise of rhino poaching in the country. The US revealed this when commenting on a briefing document submitted by the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) at a recent CITES' Standing Committee's 74th meeting (SC74). In its report, EIA claimed that, "corruption allegations within the agencies tasked with addressing the poaching of Botswana’s wildlife are especially concerning."

Thursday, 14 January 2021
South African Police Service (SAPS) 2021. Man arrested for possession of pangolin skin.

Members of Upington Highway patrol have arrested a male suspect in connection with possession of Endangered Species. Police got information about the suspect yesterday and it was operationalized. The suspect was found at a hiking spot in Upington hitch hiking to Olifantshoek. He was searched and pangolin skin was found in his luggage. It is valued at about R108 750.00, weighing 2,05 kg.

Sunday, 25 October 2020
Simpson M 2020. South Africa - SANParks laments arrest of employees for alleged rhino poaching.

The employees, two of whom are security guards while the other is attached to technical services at one of the Kruger National Park rest camps, appeared in court on Thursday following the discovery of fresh rhino horns in their vehicle. In a statement released by SANParks on Friday, the Managing Executive for the Kruger park, Gareth Coleman, said it was "always disheartening when colleagues from SANParks are involved in criminal activities.

Sunday, 13 September 2020
Simpson M 2020. Pangolin rescued and three people arrested in North West.

Illegal trade in the endangered animals on the rise again as lockdown decreases. Several pangolins have already been rescued this year.

Sunday, 23 August 2020
Simpson M 2020. Police sting operation leads to abalone seizure and arrest.

Large abalone consignment was kept under surveillance as it travelled from Cape Town to Johannesburg. Police have seized abalone worth an estimated R3-million at a home in the Johannesburg suburb of Mayfair and arrested a 46-year-old man.

Saturday, 1 August 2020
Simpson M 2020. Lockdown restrictions help cut rhino poaching by half this year.

Minister says efforts are paying off, with lockdown and increased law enforcement efforts cutting rhino deaths to 166 to date.

Wednesday, 17 June 2020
South African Police Service (SAPS) 2020. Media Statement - Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (HAWKS).

Northern Cape-The Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation has resulted in the arrest of a 48-year-old suspect for allegedly trading in a pangolin. The suspect who originates from Botswana was arrested on Tuesday after information surfaced that he intended selling a pangolin that is an endangered species. A sting operation resulted in the suspect being arrested after he was found in possession of the said pangolin.

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SA_2020-06_Services_SAPS.pdf 134.41 KB

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