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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 - 7 of 7
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.

Tuesday, 13 July 2021
Nyika L 2021. Two men jailed nine years each for poaching pangolin.

Two men from Madumabisa outside Hwange town have been sentenced to nine years in jail after they were caught in a bush in Matetsi with a live pangolin.

Tuesday, 27 April 2021
Nyika L 2021. Vic Falls City Council driver arrested for poaching.

A Victoria Falls City Council driver who hit a warthog while driving a municipal vehicle, skinned it and took the meat home for consumption has been arrested for poaching.

Friday, 26 March 2021
Nyika L 2021. Villager arrested over elephant tusks.

A 23-year-old villager from Sikabela on the outskirts of Victoria Falls town has been arrested after being found with two elephant tusks. Police and ZimParks rangers trapped Fredrick Ndlovu after getting a tip-off that he was selling the ivory at Lupinyu Business Centre near the Victoria Falls Airport.

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.

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.

Attachment Size
SA_2020-06_Services_SAPS.pdf 134.41 KB
IUCN SSC Pangolin Specialist Group 2022. Guidance for first responders on the short-term care of confiscated pangolins.

Pangolins are trafficked in high numbers. Estimates suggest that in the period 2000–2019 the equivalent of approximately 900,000 pangolins were illegally traded globally. This primarily occurs within Asia and Africa, and from Africa to Asia2 , but also involves Europe, North America, and other parts of the world. Trade can involve live and dead pangolins, their scales, and other body parts (e.g., skins).

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