This archive of published media articles about wildlife crime in Namibia aims to:
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.
Explore your search results using the filter checkboxes, or amend your search or start a new search.
The Texan faces accusations of violating South African law after several carcasses were found that had no paperwork. A controversial figure in the rhino horn trade debate was arrested last week after more than 20 rhino carcasses were found at his game farm in Limpopo. The arrest of Derek Lewitton was made by the Hawk, after they investigated his Harmony game farm for more than 16 hours. During the searches, members of the Hawks discovered multiple rhino carcasses missing their horns.
Sixteen suspects appeared before the Nelspruit Commercial Crimes Court on 31 May 2023 to face charges related to money laundering and corruption connected to the illicit trade of rhino horns. The accused were apprehended during the course of "Project Blood Orange", which saw an investigation conducted by the Serious Corruption Investigation unit of the Hawks in Mpumalanga.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
SA_2023_06_16 suspects appear in court after being bust for illicit rhino horns trade_The Citizen.pdf | 356.25 KB |
Hidden in the boot inside a bag, police found a pangolin estimated to be worth R150 000. In a collaborative operation involving the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation and other enforcement agencies, police arrested a 59-year-old suspected pangolin dealer in Gravelotte, near Tzaneen, on Wednesday, 17 May 2023.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
SA_2023_05_Suspected pangolin trafficker arrested in Gravelotte_The Citizen.pdf | 309.83 KB |
Sestig renosters is vanjaar gestroop teenoor die 44 renosters verlede jaar en 42 in 2020. In die jongste stroperyvoorvalle is twee witrenosters tussen Vrydag en Maandag op 'n onbekende tyd op 'n private plaas naby Seeis in die Windhoek-distrik gestroop. Volgens die polisie is die renosters geskiet en hul horings is verwyder. Die waarde van die twee renosters word op N$660 000 geraam.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2022_10_Sestig renosters is vanjaar gestroop_Republikein.pdf | 336.54 KB |
NAM_2022_10_Sixty rhinos were poached this year_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 308.13 KB |
Chinese rhino-horn smuggler Wang Hui (48) escaped from custody at around 11:00 yesterday and was still on the run at time of going to press last night. Wang escaped when he went to Brakwater with a warden from the Windhoek Central Prison to pick up material from a supplier.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2022_10_Rhino horn smuggler on the run_Namibian Sun.pdf | 396.2 KB |
Die Chinese renosterhoringsmokkelaar Wang Hui (48) het gister omstreeks 11:00 uit aanhouding ontsnap en was teen druktyd gister nog op die vlug. Wang het ontsnap toe hy saam met met 'n bewaarder van die Windhoek Sentrale Gevangenis na Brakwater gegaan het om materiaal by ’n verskaffer te gaan oplaai.
The Chinese rhino horn smuggler Wang Hui (48) escaped from custody at around 11:00 yesterday and was still on the run at press time yesterday. Wang escaped when he went to Brakwater with a warden from the Windhoek Central Prison to pick up materials from a supplier.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2022_10_Smokkelaar in renosterhoring op die vlug_Republikein.pdf | 580.76 KB |
NAM_2022_10_Rhino horn smuggler on the run_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 463.25 KB |
Rural communities in the Okavango Delta in Botswana have accused the country's government of not engaging them in efforts to combat rampant poaching in the area. Since 2018, more than 100 rhinos have been gunned down by poachers in the Delta and communities in the region say the situation might have been better had the government engaged them in anti-poaching work.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
BOT_2022_03_Botswana residents want to be included in anti_poaching efforts_The Independent.pdf | 1.72 MB |
It’s estimated that at least 38 pangolins were poached during the pandemic as people become more desperate to make money.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
SA_2021_05_Pangolin poacher slapped with maximum sentence_SA Promopdf.pdf | 2.13 MB |