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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 - 37 of 37
Monday, 29 January 2024
Marais R 2024. Illegal perlemoen trade booming despite anti-poaching efforts.

One of Algoa Bay’s most valuable resources is being poached and plundered at an alarming rate. Nelson Mandela Bay has experienced a string of perlemoen-related incidents over the past few days, with experts in the field saying the illegal trade of this protected shellfish is now at an all-time high.

Friday, 1 December 2023
Hattingh E 2023. Relatief min misdaad in Namibia.

Ten spyte daarvan dat Namibië een van die lande in Afrika is wat die minste misdaad ervaar, moet baie nog gedoen word om onder meer wetstoepassing te verbeter.

Despite the fact that Namibia is one of the countries in Africa that experiences the least crime, much still needs to be done to, among other things, improve law enforcement.

Thursday, 30 November 2023
Hattingh E 2023. Namibias crime levels relatively low.

Despite the fact that Namibia is one of African countries that experiences the least crime, much still needs to be done to improve law enforcement, among other things.

Wednesday, 6 September 2023
Hattingh E 2023. Illegal logging claims at Avis Dam.

The City of Windhoek says it will probe complaints that grass, trees and wood are being harvested illegally at Avis Dam. This comes after Namibia Media Holdings received a complaint and photos from a concerned Avis resident who said persons, who hold permits to harvest grass on Windhoek's side roads, apparently drove trucks full of grass and wood from the dam.

Wednesday, 6 September 2023
Hattingh E 2023. Avis timber poaching to be investigated, Says CoW.

The Windhoek Municipality (CoW) says it will investigate after receiving complaints about grass, trees and wood being harvested illegally in the vicinity of the Avisdam. This follows after Republikein received a complaint and photos from a concerned Avis resident, who claims that persons who have a permit to harvest grass on the sidewalks have also apparently already driven lorry loads of grass and wood away from Avisdam. Andreas Voigt provided photos of people who apparently recently drove away wood and grass with a "ten-ton lorry" from Avis.

Monday, 4 September 2023
Hattingh E 2023. 'Vee-, wilddiefstal-probleem oorweldigend'.

Omaruru-boere sê gemsbokke in dié omgewing is so te sê uitgeroei en dat hulle bekommerd is oor die impak op die toerismebedryf. 

Omaruru farmers say chamois in this area have been virtually eradicated and that they are worried about the impact on the tourism industry.

Thursday, 31 August 2023
Hattingh E 2023. Erneute Wilderei: "Dieser Trend zerstört Namibias größtes Kapital".

Farmer in der Gegend von Omaruru beschweren sich erneut darüber, dass das Problem mit Viehdiebstahl und Wilderei überwältigend sei - so sehr, dass sie befürchten, dass die Farmen aufgegeben werden. So spricht Markus Trede von der Farm Lindholm bei Omaruru, der am Dienstag auf seiner Farm einen Eland fand, der in einer Drahtschlinge grausam verendet war. Auf seiner Farm wurden in den letzten Wochen außerdem sechs Rinder gewildert. "Sie kommen auch wegen des Wildes. Auf unseren oder umliegenden Höfen findet man fast keine Gemsböcke mehr.

Thursday, 24 August 2023
Hattingh E 2023. Stropers loop 60km vir gemsbok.

'n Boer en verskeie plaaswerkers in die Omatjette-omgewing moes die afgelope naweek die handdoek ingooi nadat hulle vir langer as tien ure tevergeefs op die spoor van gemsbokstropers was. Die stropers het na raming minstens 60 km geloop om een gemsbok te slag. Volgens die boer op wie se plaas geslag is, is daar so ver gestap omdat daar moontlik nie meer wild op nabygeleë plase oor is nie.

Friday, 21 July 2023
Hattingh E 2023. Otjiwarongo-boer ontdek slagtersnes.

'n Boer het die afgelope week 14 gestroopte gemsbokke op sy plaas gevind, terwyl hy reeds
40 draadstrikke verwyder het.

A farmer found 14 poached oryx on his farm in the past week, while he had already
removed 40 wire snares.

Thursday, 13 April 2023
Hattingh E 2023. Syndikate diversifizieren illegale Aktivitäten.

Die Strafverfolgungsbehörden in Namibia, Mosambik und Sambia werden immer aufmerksamer, wenn es um den illegalen Schmuggel von u. a. Abalonen (Meeresschnecken) durch ihre Länder geht. Denn es mehren sich die Hinweise, dass dieselben Unternehmen und Personen, die in diesen Schmuggel verwickelt sind, auch an der Ausfuhr anderer illegaler Wildprodukte und weiteren illegalen Aktivitäten beteiligt sind. Demnach scheinen verschiedene Formen der Kriminalität mit dem illegalen Handel von Wildtieren zusammenzuhängen.

Tuesday, 11 April 2023
Hattingh E 2023. Smokkel wildprodukte saam met ander items.

Wetstoepassers in Namibië, asook in Mosambiek en Zambië begin al hoe meer let op die onwettige smokkelary van onder meer perlemoen deur hul lande. Dit omdat daar groeiende bewyse is dat dieselfde maatskappye en individue wat betrokke is in dié smokkelary, ook betrokke is in die uitvoer van onwettige wildprodukte en ander onwettige bedrywighede. Inteendeel, groeiende bewyse dui op 'n samevloeiing van ander vorme van misdaad met onwettige handel in wildprodukte.

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
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. 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.

Tuesday, 18 October 2022
Marais R 2022. Seven escape from Makhanda prison 'through open window'.

The public has been cautioned not to approach the seven men who escaped through an open window from a Makhanda (Grahamstown) prison during the early hours on Tuesday as they are considered to be dangerous. The department of correctional services and the police are hunting for the seven inmates, all in prison for serious offences, including rhino poaching, murder and robbery.

Tuesday, 26 July 2022
Hattingh E 2022. Honderde duisende se vee, wild gestroop.

Boere het gister by die landdroshof op Karibib saamgekom om te probeer verhoed dat borgtog aan vermeende vee- en wildstropers toegestaan word. Dit volg nadat daar in die week tussen volmaan en 21 Julie beeste ter waarde van N$135 000, gemsbokke van N$60 000 en sebras van N$9 000 in die omgewing van Otjiwarongo, Karibib en Omaruru gesteel is. 

Thursday, 24 March 2022
Hattingh E 2022. Touwys gemaak oor dieremisdaadtonele.

Kursusgangers het onder meer geleer oor misdaadfotografie, om afgietsels van skoenafdrukke te neem en afdrukke van motorspore te maak.

Course participants learned, among other things, about crime photography, taking shots of shoe prints and making prints of car tracks.

Monday, 13 December 2021
Hattingh E 2021. Vermeende stropers val NCPF-lede aan.

Lede van die Nossob Misdaadvoorkomingsforum (NCPF) het die afgelope Donderdagoggend in lewensgevaar verkeer nadat hulle 'n voertuig, met vermoedelik gesteelde wildsvleis daarin, agterna gesit het. Hulle het die motor as die eiendom van 'n "bekende verdagte" op Witvlei herken. Die motor het teen klippe in Witvlei se nuwe informele nedersetting vasgery, waarna twee insittendes uitgespring en weggehardloop het.

Tuesday, 23 November 2021
Hattingh E 2021. Bloedbad op plase.

Honde wat skape tydens strooptogte verskeur, lewende beeste waarvan die hakskene afgekap is en of wat in draadstrukke wurg, asook wild wat met assegaaie gesteek word en lydsaam vrek - dit is aan die orde van die dag op Namibiese plase. Selfs dragtige diere word nie deur stropers en diewe gespaar nie, terwyl landbouers net magteloos moet toekyk. Meer as 90 mense oraloor die land het Republikein die afgelope twee weke gekontak nadat vrae as deel van ‘n informele opname in die sosiale media oor vee- en wilddiefstal gestel is.

Tuesday, 26 October 2021
Hattingh E 2021. Witvlei-boere: Regstelsel faal ons.

Boere in die Witvlei-omgewing is opnuut moedeloos met 'n vlaag van vee- en wildmisdaad oor die afgelope maand, terwyl hulle sê die regstelsel misluk daarin om enige beskerming aan hulle of hul eiendom te bied.

Farmers in the Witvlei area are once again discouraged with a spate of livestock and game crime over the past month, saying the legal system is failing to provide any protection to them or their property.

Thursday, 30 September 2021
Hattingh E 2021. Ná virus kan stropers weer toeslaan: Olifantstropery op rekordlaagte.

Sodra die wêreld Covid-19 onder beheer kry, kan stropery - veral die stroping van olifante - weer die hoogte inskiet. Dit sal dan die opgeboude vraag na ivoor in die wêreld se swartmarkte moet inhaal. Mnr. Daniel Stiles, 'n onafhanklike ondersoeker wat dekades reeds spesialiseer in onwettige markte en handel in wild en wildprodukte, waarsku dat 'n onlangse styging in swartmarkprys vir ivoor in Viëtnam en China onrusbarende tekens is. Hy het die opmerkings in 'n verslag gemaak wat deel vorm van 'n reeks deur die Wêreldwye Inisiatief teen Transnasionale, Georganiseerde Misdaad (GI-…

Tuesday, 27 July 2021
Hattingh E 2021. Stryd teen olifantstropery werp vrugte af.

Hoewel niemand nog in hegtenis geneem is in verband met die vier olifante wat vanjaar in Namibië gestroop is nie, toon Namibië oor die afgelope agt jaar 'n sterk afname in die stroping van dié bosreuse. Volgens syfers wat deur die ministerie van die omgewing, bosbou en toerisme bygehou word, blyk dit dat olifantstropery jaarliks verminder. Terwyl daar in 2016 tot bykans 101 olifante gestroop is, was dit in 2019 en 2020 onderskeidelik net 13 en 12 olifante.

Friday, 23 July 2021
Hattingh E 2021. Stropers met sewe olifanttande gearresteer.

Twee mense is op Katima Mulilo en Kahenge met altesaam sewe olifanttande in hul besit betrap, terwyl nog twee mense gevang is toe hulle onderskeidelik luislangvelle en krokodilvelle van die hand wou sit.

Two people were caught on Katima Mulilo and Kahenge with a total of seven elephant tusks in their possession, while two more people were caught trying to dispose of python skins and crocodile skins respectively.

Monday, 28 December 2020
Hattingh E 2020. Boere steier onder misdaad - Miljoene se vee, wild in 2020 gesteel.

Sedert die begin van die jaar het boere in die Kalkfeld-, Omitara-, Witvlei- en Steinhausen-omgewing ’n gesamentlike verlies van meer as N$3,35 miljoen aan die diefstal van vee, wild en infrastruktuur gely. Die afgelope drie maande was die bloedigste en diewe het hier eiendom ter waarde van bykans N$1,1 miljoen weggedra. Sedert die begin van die jaar tot November, is in die Omitara-, Witvlei- en Steinhausen-omgewing verliese van meer as N$1,65 miljoen weens diefstal by die Nossob Misdaadvoorkomingsforum (NCPF) aangemeld. Die forum, wat noukeurig sedert sy ontstaan…

Monday, 27 July 2020
Paulino C 2020. Dismantled poaching net and gun snipers.

In all, 11 nationals, including firearm suppliers, poachers and game vendors, were arrested last week in Luengue-Luiana National Park, Cuando Cubango province.

Wednesday, 7 June 2017
Tjihenuna T 2017. Suspected poachers remanded in custody.

The four suspected poachers who were arrested on Saturday following a shoot-out with the police at Khorixas will remain in custody after the court denied them bail.

Tuesday, 28 March 2017
Tjihenuna T 2017. Suspected Nam rhino horns seized in China.

A man suspected of having travelled from Namibia was arrested at the Hong Kong International Airport on Friday in connection with 12 rhino horns found in express air parcels.

Thursday, 26 January 2017
Tjihenuna T 2017. Three arrested with 13 elephant tusks.

Three suspects were arrested on Tuesday evening at Tjova village in Kavango East after being found in possession of 13 elephant tusks by a joint police and ministry of environment patrol. Police spokesperson Kauna Shikwambi yesterday said police arrested a Namibian and two Angolans, aged 27, 42 and 50, respectively, during an intelligence-led investigation.

Friday, 6 January 2017
Tjihenuna T 2017. Man shot by police said he was not poaching.

He was tending to his employer's cattle and not poaching, the suspected poacher shot and wounded by police on Wednesday at a farm in the Outjo district said yesterday.

Thursday, 5 January 2017
Tjihenuna T 2017. Police shoot suspected poacher.

A suspected poacher was shot and wounded by police yesterday at Farm Harrisy near Etosha National Park, bringing the number of those injured to two since December last year. Three others were shot dead at Bwabwata National Park last week following the invocation of the Criminal Procedure Act where police are instructed to shoot poachers in self-defence.

Thursday, 15 December 2016
Tjihenuna T, Haidula T 2016. Shifeta says poaching not a crisis.

The poaching of rhinos and elephants in Namibia is not a crisis because only about 1,2% are poached per year, said environment minister Pohamba Shifeta.

Monday, 12 December 2016
Tjihenuna T 2016. Six arrested in Etosha.

Six people found carrying rifles in the Etosha National Park last week were arrested after a wounded rhino was found in the area.

Friday, 25 November 2016
Tjihenuna T 2016. Chinese national arrested with 18 rhino horns.

A Chinese man was arrested on Wednesday in South Africa when he was found with 18 rhino horns worth R6,6 million which are suspected to have been smuggled from Namibia.

Friday, 10 July 2015
Tjihenuna T 2015. Government condemns Botswana for shooting Namibians.

Government yesterday condemned the random shooting of Namibian citizens suspected of being poachers at the Botswana border, saying the authorities in that country are too quick to pull the trigger.

Tuesday, 16 June 2015
Tjihenuna T 2015. Rhino carcass discovered at Omatendeka Conservancy.

Yet another black rhino was poached in the Omatendeka Conservancy in Southern Kunene over the weekend, bringing the total number of poached rhinos in the country to 69 this year. The rhino is the fifth to be poached in the same area within a couple of months. The Ministry of Environment and Tourism confirmed yesterday that five people were arrested in connection with the incident after they were discovered with two rhino horns in their possession.

Wednesday, 3 June 2015
Tjihenuna T 2015. 103 rhinos poached in the last 10 years.

Ninety-five black rhinos and eight white rhinos have been poached in Namibia since 2005, the ministry of environment and tourism revealed yesterday. Minister of environment Pohamba Shifeta said this, when he revealed the outcome of tests conducted on the latest rhino and elephant carcasses discovered since 2014. 
Shifeta said over the last 10 years, 294 black rhinos died of natural causes, while 95 others were poached and seven others were killed for trophy hunting.

Hattingh E 2021. Teenstropingseenhede 'kan nie voorbly'.

"Daar gaan nie ‘n aand verby waar daar nie iewers gestroop word nie. Ek kan nie voorbly nie, die ding ruk handuit. Dis ‘n bekommernis." Só sê mnr. Rickus Spangenberg van Windhoek K9 Academy, wat honde oplei om die spoor van vee- en wilddiewe te sny en hulle vas te trek.

"Not a night goes by where there is no poaching anywhere. I can not keep up, the thing gets out of hand. It's a concern." So says Mr. Rickus Spangenberg of Windhoek K9 Academy, who trains dogs to follow the tracks of livestock and game thieves and catch them.

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