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.
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South African National Parks has confirmed that lions have been targeted in a poisoning campaign in the northern Kruger Park by poachers seeking the animals’ body parts, presumably for the muti trade. The numbers are not huge, but in the wake of the rhino poaching onslaught, the targeting of another charismatic species in the iconic park will set off alarm bells among conservationists.
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SA_2023_07_Kruger lions being poisoned by poachers for body parts_says SANParks_Daily Maverick.pdf | 436.49 KB |
The Wildlife Justice Commission has published details of a rhino horn trafficking case that includes the use of frozen seafood and 'mishandled baggage', as well as the failure of authorities not to publicly report their seizure of the horn.
Private and communal lands now conserve at least 50% of Africa's rhinos, according to a newly published paper in journal 'Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment', highlighting the need for 'adaptive policies' to build on this success. These trends have policy implications as debates rage about rhino-horn trade and trophy hunting.
Zimbabwe's rhino population remains among the bright sparks on the African continent after it increased by 14 percent from a total 887 in 2017 to now stand at 1,033. The statistics were compiled by Rhino Specialist Groups of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and trade monitoring organisation TRAFFIC, ahead of the 19th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP19) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wildlife Fauna and Flora (CITES) in Panama this month.
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ZIM_2022_11_Zimbabwe rhino population up while rest of Africa sees decline_Independent.pdf | 289.8 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.
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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 |
The Balule Nature Reserve (BNR) reports that it has recorded not a single rhino killing in the past two years. The reserve is situated on the Olifants River, between Hoedspruit and Phalaborwa. It shares an unfenced border with the Greater Kruger, and forms part of the Associated Private Nature Reserves bordering the Park. Ryan says their worst period was between 2014 and 2018 when they lost 37 rhino in total to poaching. In 2017 alone, 17 animals were killed.
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SA_2022_10_Private reserves stop poachers but it takes R200 000 per rhino per year_CapeTalk.pdf | 549.16 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.
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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 |
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.
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NAM_2022_10_Rhino horn smuggler on the run_Namibian Sun.pdf | 396.2 KB |
A spike in seizures of elephant ivory from people emboldened enough to be trying to sell it openly in markets, from their houses, and even at a fuel station, has raised concerns among conservationists about a return of poaching. Police reported the six villagers were arrested on May 3 and 4, 2022, while trying to sell elephant tusks in the mining town of Hwange, in Zimbabwe’s Matabeleland North province. On May 1, 57-year-old Collin Tapfumaneyi Chizengeni was more audacious: arrested while trying to sell 21 pieces of ivory from his house in Gutu.
Rhino poaching declined sharply in South Africa last year, according to the latest official data, and the data also shows that rhinos on state land were far more vulnerable than those in private hands. In South Africa, if you are a rhino on a state reserve, your chances of getting whacked by a poacher are about nine times greater than if you roam a private one.