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The High Court granted an interdict this week ?? which keeps Ottilie Ndimulunde from carrying out mining operations and building a road or anything else on her mine mines in the Khorixas area. The interdict will be valid pending the outcome of a review application to the Environment Commissioner against the Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) issued. The Doro ! Nawas Conservation Area, Ûibasen Twyfelfontein Conservation Area, the ≠Aodaman Traditional Authority and the company Ultimate Safaris have brought an urgent application against Ndimulunde.

Following the export of 42 white rhinos from Namibia to the USA in a private sale, the environment ministry last week said it aims to introduce stricter exporting regulations. The 42 white rhinos, purchased from Kifaru Luxury Lodge and Bush Camp near Outjo, landed safely in Texas, USA, after being airlifted from Hosea Kutako Airport and transported on a Boeing 747.

Two American hunters have applied to import black rhino hunting trophies from Namibia. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service requested comments with regards to the two applications - one from a hunter in Texas and another from a hunter in Florida. "We invite the (American) public to comment on applications to conduct certain activities with foreign species that are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act," a statement read. Comments must be received by 24 October. The rhinos - Lippie and Willem, aged 28 and 31 - were hunted in Namibia.

Two communal conservation areas near Khorixas feel betrayed by the decision of the environment ministry to allow mining activities in a joint management area where rhinos are threatened. The conservation areas of Doro ! Nawas and Ûibasen Twyfelfontein recently succeeded in obtaining a court order to stop road construction activities related to mining claims within their nuclear rhino conservation area.

The Doro ! Nawas and Ûibasen Twyfelfontein recently obtained a court order to halt road construction work for planned mining operations to protect rhinos in their area. They are supported by the traditional authority Aodaman and Ultimate Safaris, a tourism partner, in their lawsuit against mining entrepreneurs Ottillie Ndimulunde and Timoteus Mashuna. The lawsuit is also directed against the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Mines, the Commissioner for the Environment and the Commissioner for Mines.

Namibia's recent success in returning a fugitive from South Africa to stand trial has underscored the importance of cooperating with Interpol to adhere to the complexities of the extradition process worldwide.  The International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol)'s National Central Bureau (NCB) in Windhoek focusses its global police cooperation activities around Namibia's crime areas of concern, including wildlife crime (particularly stock theft), drug crime, money-laundering, firearms’ trafficking and human trafficking.  The Namibian Police (Nampol) uses its…

The International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC) launched its annual report for 2023, highlighting the successes and achievements of countries it supports in combating wildlife and forest crime, of which Namibia is one. The consortium uses targeted and evidence-based approaches to strengthen criminal justice systems and provide coordinated support to enhance responses to wildlife crime.

Gerhardus Petrus van Zyl (50) is in hegtenis geneem en van onwettige jag van jagbare wild aangekla. Hy het na bewering 23 koedoe-, 17 eland-, nege hartebees- en 139 gemsbokvelle in sy besit gehad. Gerhardus Petrus van Zyl (50) was arrested and charged with illegal hunting of huntable game. He allegedly had in his possession 23 kudu, 17 eland, nine hartebeest and 139 oryx skins.

The ongoing high rates of wildlife crime in Namibia and its expansion into new sectors, despite active law enforcement efforts, are clear signs that rigorous crime fighting alone will not reduce these activities. This is according to the Namibia National Report on Wildlife Protection for 2023, which warned that while law enforcement is vital, particularly in combatting organised criminal activities, further initiatives should be employed to reduce wildlife crimes.

Pangolins continue to rank second behind rhinos among the wildlife most targeted by poachers in Namibia in terms of the number of cases registered in 2023. Last year, 60 wildlife crime cases were registered for pangolins and 90 cases for rhinos. In 2022, 36 pangolin cases were registeres.

Illegal harvesting and trafficking of plants have skyrocketed in Namibia over the past few years. Arrests of suspects for crimes related to plants have increased from three in 2021 to 42 last year. According to the Namibia National Wildlife Protection Report for 2024, Namibian flora is clearly becoming increasingly popular in the ornamental-plant trade, driven by online marketing. Statistics provided in the report showed that 1 211 plant products were seized last year and 18 cases related to plant crimes were registered, while nine cases were finalised.

Illegal harvesting and trafficking of plants have skyrocketed in Namibia over the past few years. Arrests of suspects for crimes related to plants have increased from three in 2021 to 42 last year. According to the Namibia National Wildlife Protection Report for 2024, Namibian flora is clearly becoming increasingly popular in the ornamental-plant trade, driven by online marketing. Statistics provided in the report showed that 1 211 plant products were seized last year and 18 cases related to plant crimes were registered, while nine cases were finalised.

Surging organised wildlife crime syndicates, limitations in wildlife protection, prosecution and sentencing, and inappropriate sentencing are just some of the wildlife crime challenges authorities grapple with in Namibia. According to the Namibia National Report on Wildlife Protection 2023, organised criminal activity appears to be increasing in various sectors involving Namibia's natural resources. The report said that during 2023, complex syndicate operations were investigated related to rhino poaching, live-plant trafficking, illicit timber harvesting and trophy shooting.

The wildlife crime cases over the last two years have mostly involved antelopes, pangolins, small mammals, rhinos and elephants.

The Rhino Sanctuary Namibia, located about 60km from Windhoek will officially open its doors this September. Although they have already had guests at the lodge to experience the magnificent surroundings and to pay a visit to the white rhinos roaming the area, they are still busy with some final touches. Manager Stefanus Prinsloo explained that the idea for Rhino Sanctuary Namibia came from the lodge owner, Tom Kjær who wanted to assist in protecting the rhinos against increasing poaching in Namibia.

Rangers from across the southern African region, including Namibia, have established a new community of practice for monitoring and reporting on elephant mortality. Accurate and consistent data on elephant deaths is crucial for understanding and effectively addressing the threats faced by 'nature's gardeners', which include human-elephant conflict, habitat loss and the illegal killing for ivory. Reliable data allows for informed decision-making and effective conservation measures to ensure the long-term survival of African elephants in their natural habitats.

Environment and tourism minister Pohamba Shifeta has come out strongly against CITES' decision to ban ivory from being sold on international markets. In an interview with New Era on the sidelines of the just-ended KAZA summit in Livingstone, he said if the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) refuses member states to sell off ivory stockpiles, they will withdraw their membership. "If CITES refuses, we have some alternatives and plans. We can go for arbitration.

In early May, the environment ministry's forestry directorate raided farms in the Kunene Region where protected mopane trees are being harvested and exported for charcoal and firewood. Trucks carrying loads of wood and charcoal - without permits to do so - have already been seized, the directorate confirmed. An outraged charcoal producer in the Outjo district, who preferred to remain anonymous, claimed a forestry official threatened him and demanded a bribe from him to not stop his charcoal business.

Trotz Bemühungen um Eindämmung des Handels mit bedrohten Tierarten wie Elefanten geht der illegale Handel mit Wildtieren weltweit unvermindert weiter. Dies geht aus dem einem Bericht des Büros der Vereinten Nationen für Drogen- und Verbrechensbekämpfung (UNODC) hervor, der eine Bestandsaufnahme der weltweiten Anti-Wilderei- Maßnahmen enthält.

Despite progress to curtail the trafficking of iconic species such as elephants, illegal wildlife trafficking continues unabated on a global scale. This is according to the 2024 World Wildlife Crime Report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which takes stock of efforts to counter poaching worldwide. The report highlights that wildlife trafficking has not seen a significant enough decrease over the past two decades, prompting a call for enhanced enforcement of existing laws, including measures to combat corruption.

A total of 707 suspects have been arrested in connection with rhino poaching between January 2023 and March of this year. Currently, 589 suspects are in custody awaiting trial, 91 suspects have been convicted, 21 are out on bail, five have been released, two were acquitted, and one suspect has died. Environment minister Pohamba Shifeta provided these statistics during his budget motivation for the 2024-2025 financial year.

'n Dringende hoëvlak-vergadering tussen die ministerie van omgewing, bosbou en toerisme en sekuriteitsgroepe is belê nadat 28 renosters in die eerste drie maande van die jaar in Namibië gestroop is. Uit die 28 renosters is 19 in die Etosha Nasionale Park gestroop. Volgens die ministerie se woordvoerder Romeo Muyunda is tien van die 19 gestroopte renosters in die park verlede maand tydens onthoringsoperasies ontdek.

A handful of hunting guides have been arrested in various parts of the country over the past few months, each charged with separate illegal activities related to leopard hunting. The ministry is working very closely with the police and has decided that if the industry cannot rid itself of illicit practices, then rigorous law enforcement is the only option.

Wildlife conservation continues to face the acute challenges of poaching, habitat fragmentation and human-wildlife conflict. Environment ministry executive director Teofilus Nghitila said due to Namibia's successful conservation methods, which have led to increased wildlife populations outside national parks, human-wildlife conflict has increased. "The situation is worsened by the current disparities in rainfall as well as the growing human population," he said in his end-of-year message.

Environment ministry executive director Teofilus Nghitila says 48 rhinos have been poached so far this year. The figure shows a decrease from the 92 animals poached last year. Meanwhile, eight elephants were poached this year - compared to four last year - but this still much better than the previous years' figures, which reached 27 in 2018. The ministry – in collaboration with various law enforcement agencies - set up a response team when poaching skyrocketed in 2013.

There has been an increase in the number of arrests made in crimes related to pangolin trafficking between 1 September and 30 November. According to environment ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda, 18 pangolin skins, 12 live pangolins and 146 scales were confiscated, resulting in 23 registered cases and 38 suspects being arrested. "These numbers surpass that of elephant and rhino arrests combined for this period."

Namibia's average criminal market score was 4.1, an increase of 0.2 since 2021. The country scored 3.5 on human trafficking and 4.5 in arms trafficking. For flora crimes, Namibia scored 6.5, and for fauna crimes - which would include rhino poaching and the linked trade in horns - it scored 4.5.

A man was arrested alongside a foreigner, in the possession of elephant tusks weighing 18.7kg worth more than US$3 000. In a statement, police said Passivel Togara (47) and his accomplice were arrested by detectives who posed as buyers of the elephant tusks on 29 November 2023 in Katakura area, Rushinga.

Two men were arrested in possession of two elephant tusks and five pangolin scales at Magunje Growth Point.

A total of 24 elephant tusks were confiscated, while one suspect was arrested and seven others fled the scene when their car was searched last Friday in the Zambezi Region. According to the environment ministry, the police, the defence force and ministry officials searched vehicles as part of an intelligence-led operation in pursuit of a syndicate of Zambian nationals who were embarking on transnational poaching of elephants in neighbouring Botswana using Zambezi as a transit root. It said security operatives intercepted the vehicle used to transport elephant tusks.

A total of 24 elephant tusks were confiscated, while one suspect was arrested and seven others fled the scene when their car were searched on Friday in the Zambezi Region. According to the environment ministry, members of the ministry, the police and the defence force were searching vehicles as part of an intelligence-led operation in pursuit of a syndicate of Zambian nationals who were embarking on transnational poaching of elephants in neighbouring Botswana using the Zambezi Region as a transit root.

A total of 24 elephant tusks were confiscated, while one suspect was arrested and seven others fled the scene when their car were searched on Friday in the Zambezi Region. According to the environment ministry, members of the ministry, the police and the defence force were searching vehicles as part of an intelligence-led operation in pursuit of a syndicate of Zambian nationals who were embarking on transnational poaching of elephants in neighbouring Botswana using the Zambezi Region as a transit root.

Insgesamt wurden 24 Elefantenstoßzähne beschlagnahmt, während ein Verdächtiger verhaftet wurde und sieben weitere bei der Durchsuchung ihrer Fahrzeuge am Freitag in der Sambesi-Region flüchteten.

A total of 24 elephant tusks were seized while one suspect was arrested and seven others escaped during searches of their vehicles in the Zambezi region on Friday.

Die ministerie van die omgewing, bosbou en toerisme het vonnisse van minstens 13 jaar tronkstraf elk vir vier renosterstropers verwelkom. Die vonnisse is onlangs in die Windhoek-streekhof opgelê.

The Ministry of the Environment, Forestry and Tourism has welcomed sentences of at least 13 years in prison each for four rhino poachers. The sentences were handed down recently in the Windhoek Regional Court.

Zwei der Justizvollzugsbeamten, die wegen des Verdachts, an der Flucht des chinesischen Nashornschmugglers Wang Hui beteiligt gewesen und deshalb suspendiert worden waren, wurden für schuldig befunden. Ihnen wurde eine Geldstrafe auferlegt.

Two correctional officers who were suspended on suspicion of being involved in the escape of Chinese rhino smuggler Wang Hui have been found guilty. They were fined.

The environment ministry has welcomed sentences of at least 13 years in prison each for four rhino poachers. The sentences were handed down in the Windhoek Regional Court last week. Former Brave Warriors chiropractor Gerson Kandjii (51) was also involved in the case, but died in custody in 2021. The arrests stem from an incident in December 2016, when four white rhinos were poached on a private farm in the Gobabis district. On 22 December 2016, the suspects, allegedly without a hunting permit, killed four white rhinos - two…

Two correctional officers who were suspended after the escape of Chinese rhino-horn smuggler Wang Hui have been found guilty by an internal disciplinary process. Deputy Commissioner-General Mariana Martin of the Namibian Correctional Service (NCS) told Namibian Sun that based on an investigation, three officers were suspended after Wang's escape. "All three correctional officers suspended were eventually charged, with at present two found guilty of misconduct under the Correctional Service Act."

This year, 39 rhinos have been poached so far in Namibia, compared to 92 in 2022 and 50 in 2021. Tourism minister Pohamba Shifeta presented these figures at the commemoration of World Rhino Day on Friday at Okaukuejo in Etosha National Park. At the event, the minister also officially launched a horse anti-poaching unit. A total of 13 horses have been purchased by the ministry for N$10 000 each, with funding support from the Game Product Trust Fund.

Five men were arrested for poaching at Humani Ranch which led to the recovery of 15 kg of Impala meat and a live Pangolin. In a statement, police said: "The suspects are Peter Tendi (38), Innocent Manyezu (31), Michael Bishou (23), Hlanganayi Sithole (61)." The suspects were arrested on Monday following a tip-off. On 18/09/23, Police in Chipinge acted on received information and arrested Peter Tendi (38), Innocent Manyezu (31), Michael Bishou (23), Harunaishe Shuro (43), and Johnson Hlanganayi Sithole (61) in connection with poaching at Humani Ranch…

Die Brüder Lombaard sind wegen mehrerer Vergehen im Zusammenhang mit illegalem Wildtransport angeklagt. Gegen Johan Lombaard, der jüngst auf Kaution freigelassen wurde, liegt nun noch ein ausstehender Haftbefehl vor, für den er wieder Kaution erhielt.

The Lombaard brothers are charged with several offenses related to illegal game transport. Johan Lombaard, who was recently released on bail, now has an outstanding arrest warrant for which he was granted bail again.

Right after wildlife dealer Johan Lombaard was released on bail earlier this week, he was arrested again in connection with a case dating back to 2014. The 57-year-old appeared in the Gobabis Magistrate's Court on Wednesday for the illegal capture and transport of game to the value of N$817 000. He and his co- accused, his brother Johannes Jacobus Lombaaard (54) and Rudie Kotze (49), were granted N$50 000 bail each. The Lombaard brothers established Golden Game, a wildlife farming, capturing and export business in Mariental.…

Die beiden Lombaard-Brüder, die in Mariental das Wildtierzucht-, Fang- und Exportunternehmen Golden Game gegründet haben, werden heute (Dienstag) vor dem Magistratsgericht in Gobabis erscheinen, um einen formellen Antrag auf Kaution zu stellen. Ihnen wird vorgeworfen, illegal Wild im Wert von 817 000 N$ gefangen und transportiert zu haben.

Die twee Lombaard-broers wat die Golden Game-wildboerdery-, vang- en uitvoeronderneming
in Mariental gestig het, sal vandag in die landdroshof op Gobabis verskyn vir ’n formele aansoek
om borgtog op aanklagte van die onwettige vang en vervoer van wild ter waarde van N$817 000.

The two Lombaard brothers, who founded the Golden Game game farming, trapping and
exporting business in Mariental, will appear in the magistrate's court at Gobabis today for a
formal application for bail on charges of the illegal capture and transport of game to value of
N$817…

Two brothers will appear in the Gobabis Magistrate's Court today for their formal bail application on charges of illegally capturing and transporting game to the value of N$817 000. Johan (57) and Kobus Lombaard (54) - who founded Golden Game, a wildlife farming, capturing and export business - stand accused of illegally transporting game or game meat under the Nature Conservation Ordinance and selling and purchasing game without a permit. They also face charges under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act for disguising the…

Als eine der größten illegalen Wirtschaftsformen der Welt ist die Naturkriminalität eng mit Terrorismus, Korruption, Menschenrechtsverletzungen, Finanzkriminalität und anderen Bedrohungen für Frieden und Sicherheit verbunden.

The Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) plays a vital role in countering organised wildlife crime in Namibia. With a renewed spike in rhino poaching in 2022, the FIC's role underlines the extent to which rhino poaching is driven by organised criminal gangs and the extensive criminal networks that facilitate horn trafficking. This is according to the National Namibia Wildlife Protection Report for 2022, which found that poaching and trafficking of live plants also appear to be coordinated via well-organised online platforms…