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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.

Explore your search results using the filter checkboxes, or amend your search or start a new search.

Displaying results 1 - 12 of 12
Tuesday, 14 November 2023
Motlhabane C 2023. Pangolin pain.

Caught with a mother pangolin and its child in his home village near Nata on 19 November 2022, 33-year-old Othusitse Baile will forgo his freedom for the next four years.

Wednesday, 2 August 2023
Motlhabane C 2023. Duo nabbed in possession of a pangolin.

Two Zimbabwean men have been remanded in custody after they were found in possession of a live pangolin.

Saturday, 13 May 2023
Ndlovu B 2023. Pair nabbed with elephant tusks.

Two men in Victoria Falls, Matabeleland North province have been arrested after police found them with a pair of elephant tusks on Thursday.

Thursday, 9 February 2023
Zwinoira T 2023. Zimbabweans implicated in regional rhino poaching surge.

Zimbabweans have been implicated as chief architects of a recent spike in rhino poaching in South Africa. The South African Department of Correctional Services identified the Zimbabwean poachers as Nhamo Muyambo, Francis Chitho, Trymore Chauke, Lubuyo September, Abraham Moyane, Simba Masinge and Bennet Kwamle. International Rhino Foundation (IRF) communications director Christopher Whitlatch said: "Zimbabwean rhino poachers have been involved in major illegal activities in South Africa.

Friday, 2 December 2022
Zwinoira T 2022. Locals driving rhino poaching in the region.

International Rhino Foundation (IRF) communications director Christopher Whitlatch said: "Zimbabwean rhino poachers have been involved in major illegal activities in South Africa. "Taking the Eastern Cape as an example, the Zimbabwean rhino poaching gang that recently escaped from jail had been convicted for killing and dehorning numerous rhinos in hit-and-run incidents in that province. "Other cross-border rhino crimes include South African criminals operating in Zimbabwe," he said

Saturday, 16 July 2022
Wagiet R 2022. Plant poachers arrested for illegally harvesting indigenous plants in Cape Town.

Field rangers at the Tygerberg Nature Reserve managed to apprehend poachers who were illegally removing bulbs and indigenous plants from one of the hiking trails. On Tuesday, 12 July 2022, the Tygerberg Nature Reserve staff were alerted by a visitor to three individuals who seemed to be removing plants from one of the hiking trails.

Tuesday, 28 June 2022
Matarise M 2022. Zim poaching levels go down.

Owing to effective conservation methods, wildlife poaching has significantly decreased in Zimbabwe. This was a result of robust anti-poaching systems, coupled with increased patrols and the use of modern technology. Senior area manager for Mana Pools National Park Edmore Ngosi reiterated that poaching levels had gone down significantly over the past five years. "With interventions from the government and conservation partners, we are happy to say that we are on top of the situation as we have seen poaching levels decrease in the entire landscape".

Sunday, 12 June 2022
Zwinoira T 2022. The Zimbabwe Park Authority tightens security in Hwange National Park.

By building these new campgrounds, ZimParks wants to prevent a repeat of the 2013 massacre of more than 120 elephants who were poisoned by poachers. Farawo said when the elephants were poisoned, it was difficult for ZimParks to move from the main camp to the site. He added that having on-site housing would also make it easier for rangers to respond to wildlife affecting nearby communities. One of the closest communities to the park is the district of Tsholotsho, which is about 10 kilometers away. Farawo said building Makona will ensure rangers can protect elephants.

Friday, 19 November 2021
Motlhabane C 2021. Illegal ivory dealer jailed for two years.

A sense of remorse and a convincing mitigation statement have saved a convicted ivory dealer from a lengthy jail term as he got off lightly with a reduced sentence. Poul Garirayi would have been condemned to a mandatory 10-year maximum jail term and a hefty fine for the elephant tusks valued at P10 233.22 that he was found in possession of.

Tuesday, 21 September 2021
Motlhabane C 2021. Busted in the bush.

A man caught with a single elephant tusk during an unexpected run-in with the police in the bush two years ago will learn his fate next Thursday. Although he tried to hide the offending item beneath his jacket during his unplanned encounter with the cops, the big bulge gave Gaosego Emang Seipato away. The 35-year-old met his downfall on 3 May 2019, when he was rumbled by a police patrol who were actually on the lookout for illegal gold miners in the bushes between Matshelagabedi and BDF training centre on the outskirts of Francistown.

Tuesday, 21 September 2021
Motlhabane C 2021. 'Big-hearted' boyfriend jailed in elephant tusk takedown.

A big-hearted boyfriend who managed to get his lover off the hook after the pair were caught with two elephant tusks has been taken to task over the matter and jailed for two years. Zimbabwean native, Brian Ndlovu admitted to being in possession of the ivory, claiming he had been given the tusks by another man with the instruction to sell them. He was busted when police received a tip-off of a man trying to sell tusks at Tonota lands. Swooping into action on 22 January, the cops pounced to find Ndlovu in the presence of his girlfriend and home-girl, Mary Sibanda.

Tuesday, 27 July 2021
Ndlovu B 2021. Four men suspected to be poachers arrested after being found with elephant tusks.

Four suspected poachers have been arrested after being found in possession of elephant tusks worth nearly US$3 000.

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