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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 - 50 of 65
Tuesday, 2 April 2024
Moser K 2024. Enormer Anstieg der Wilderei.
Namibia ist in den letzten Tagen von mehreren Fällen der Nashornwilderei heimgesucht worden. Sowohl im Etoscha-Nationalpark als auch auf privaten Farmen häuften sich in der vergangenen Woche die Funde getöteter Nashörner. Wie das Umweltministerium mitteilte, ist die Zahl gewilderter Nashörner im laufenden Jahr 2024 somit auf 28 gestiegen. "Es ist besorgniserregend, dass 19 Nashörner im Etoscha-Nationalpark gewildert wurden, von denen 10 bei Enthornungsaktionen im März entdeckt wurden", so Romeo Muyunda, Sprecher des Ministeriums.
Wednesday, 27 March 2024
Moser K 2024. NWP ernstig oor bewaring.
Namibia Wildlife Protection se veldwagters ontvang opleiding in onder meer die hantering van wapens, taktiese bewegings en spoorsny. Namibia Wildlife Protection rangers receive training in, amongst others, weapons handling, tactical movements and tracking.
Wednesday, 27 March 2024
Moser K 2024. Wildstropers se Nemesis.

In kamoefleerdrag, swart stewels en ’n semi-outomatiese wapen in sy holster, is Marcus Jacobs soggens reg vir aksie. Wat dalk na ’n militêre operasie klink, is in werklikheid die daaglikse roetine van ’n man met ’n missie: die beskerming van bedreigde wild teen stropers. Jacobs is die hoofbestuurder van Namibia Wildlife Protection (NWP), ’n private sekuriteitsmaatskappy wat bedreigde wildspesies in Namibië teen stropers beskerm. Dit sluit in "hoë teikenspesies" soos renosters en olifante. "Ons kan nie meer ons kosbare spesies sonder wapens beskerm nie.

Wednesday, 20 March 2024
Moser K 2024. Namibia Wildlife Protection führt Anti-Wilderei-Markt an.
Die AZ hat das führende Anti-Wilderei-Unternehmen in Namibia, Namibia Wildlife Protection (NWP), begleitet, und in Erfahrung gebracht: "Es besteht eine große Nachfrage nach Anti-Wilderei-Einheiten in der namibischen Farmbranche und ein massiver Markt für Anti-Wilderei-Dienstleistungen." Das sagt Salmon Vermaak, der Gründer und Direktor von Namibia Wildlife Protection. Er entschied sich, sich auf Nashörner und Elefanten zu spezialisieren. Inzwischen beschäftigt er über 200 Ranger auf 700 000 Hektar privatem Farmland.
Saturday, 17 February 2024
Moser K 2024. Namibia warns of rising pangolin trafficking on World Pangolin Day.
Namibia's Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism issued a warning on World Pangolin Day, exposing the extent of illegal trafficking and poaching activities targeting pangolins.
Tuesday, 6 February 2024
Moser K 2024. Pangolinschmuggler festgesetzt.
Die Polizei hat erneut eine Verhaftung wegen illegalen Handels mit Schuppentier-Produkten vermeldet. Eigenen Angaben zufolge setzten sie zwei Männer angolanischer Staatsbürgerschaft fest, die im Besitz von zwei Pangolin-Häuten und 57 Pangolin-Schuppen waren. Sie wurden am vergangenen Freitag bei Outapi festgenommen, nachdem sie die Produkte zwei verdeckten Polizisten zum Kauf angeboten hatten. Police have again reported an arrest for illegal trafficking in pangolin products.
Friday, 12 January 2024
Moser K 2024. Diebstähle bei Farmen um Outjo.

Bei Outjo mehren sich weiterhin die Vorfälle von Kriminalität auf Farmen. Wie Rolf Wagner und Erika Zamzow von der Farm Moselle gegenüber der AZ berichteten, haben Unbekannte im vergangenen Dezember Solarinstallationen und Pumpen von fünf Wasserstellen der Farm gestohlen. Die Farm arbeite eng mit der Anti-Wilderei-Einheit Nyime zusammen, die die Diebe "über fast 30 Kilometer bis zur Teerstraße Outjo-Khorixas verfolgt" hätten. Die Diebe seien nicht gefasst, aber nahezu alle gestohlenen Teile sichergestellt worden.

Thursday, 21 December 2023
Moser K 2023. Sorge um Schuppentiere.

Das namibische Umweltministerium ist beunruhigt über eine akute Zunahme der Wilderei von Pangolinen in Namibia in den letzten Monaten. "Das Ministerium ist erfreut zu beobachten, dass zwischen dem 1. September und dem 30. November 2023 mehr Verdächtige im Zusammenhang mit Schuppentierhandel verhaftet wurden. Wir sind jedoch besorgt, dass dies auch auf einen Anstieg der Verbrechen an Schuppentieren hinweisen könnte", so Romeo Muyunda, Sprecher des Ministeriums, in einer Mitteilung.

Monday, 10 October 2022
Moser K 2022. Südafrikanische Syndikate an Nashornwilderei in Namibia beteiligt.

Nach Angaben von Nashornschützern sind anscheinend grenzübergreifende Syndikate an der Nashornwilderei in Namibia beteiligt. Während auf dem afrikanischen Kontinent die Zahlen der Nashornwilderei insgesamt sinken, verzeichnet Namibia seit einigen Monaten beunruhigend viele Fälle. Laut dem Direktor des Save the Rhino Trust, Simon Uri Khob, zeigen Berichte, dass Syndikate von Nashornwilderern aus Südafrika in Namibia agieren und es vor allem auf kommerzielle Farmen absehen. Das berichtete das US-amerikanische internationale Nachrichtenportal VOA.

Thursday, 22 September 2022
Moser K 2022. Weltnashorntag: Rhinos müssen geschützt werden.

Heute ist Weltnashorntag: Ein Tag, der einerseits an die Faszination und Schönheit der grauen Riesen erinnert - aber auch an ihre Gefährdung und Schutzbedürftigkeit angesichts zahlreicher Bedrohungen weltweit. In Afrika geht die Population der Nashörner laut Umweltstiftung WWF insgesamt jährlich um drei Prozent zurück. Es werden jedes Jahr hunderte Nashörner wegen ihres Horns getötet; in Südafrika sind die Tiere besonders gefährdet. Der internationale Handel mit Nashorn-Hörnern ist zwar verboten.

Wednesday, 21 September 2022
Menges W 2022. PG revives wildlife crimes case.

A businessman whose case involving alleged wildlife crimes was struck off the court roll last week has been summoned to return to the Windhoek Regional Court on the same charges in November.

Friday, 16 September 2022
Menges W 2022. Accused man off hook on wildlife charges.

A Chinese businessman who has been facing charges of dealing in controlled wildlife products over the past eight years left the Windhoek Magistrate's Court as a free man yesterday, after his case was struck from the court roll. The state alleged that the five men illegally dealt in four elephant tusks in Windhoek on 11 June 2014.

Wednesday, 7 September 2022
Menges W 2022. Owners to lose cars over wildlife crimes.

The owners of two cars that were used to transport pangolin skins are set to lose their vehicles to the state, following an order given in the Windhoek High Court yesterday. In terms of an order given by judge Shafimana Ueitele, a Nissan NP200 bakkie and Nissan Tiida sedan seized by the police in the Grootfontein district four years ago have now been declared forfeited to the state.

Tuesday, 16 August 2022
Moser K 2022. Wilderei bedroht auch Hyänen.

Unter den Opfern der Wilderei im südlichen Afrika wird den meisten nicht zu allererst die Hyäne einfallen. Eine Studie zeigt, dass die Folgen der Drahtschlingenwilderei für die Population der Tüpfelhyäne bisher stark unterschätzt wurden.

Among the victims of poaching in southern Africa, the hyena will not come to mind for most. A study shows that the consequences of wire snare poaching for the spotted hyena population have been grossly underestimated.

Friday, 18 February 2022
Moser K 2022. Welttag der Schuppentiere.

Sie sind faszinierend, selten und oft das Ziel von Wilderei und Schmuggel - Pangoline, auch bekannt als Schuppentiere. Sie sind das einzige geschuppte Säugetier und ihre Spezies, von der es acht Unterarten gibt, ist über 60 Millionen Jahre alt. Morgen, am 19. Februar, ist Weltpangolintag, um auf die hohe Gefährdung dieser beeindruckenden Tierart aufmerksam zu machen. Der Mensch ist dabei die größte Bedrohung: Schuppentiere sind die meist geschmuggelte Säugetierspezies weltweit, vor allem da ihre Schuppen in Asien als traditionelles Heilmittel verwendet werden.

Tuesday, 28 September 2021
Moser K 2021. Namibië vaar goed met renosterbewaring: Stropery steeds 'n bedreiging.

Die Internasionale Renosterstigting (IRF) het sy jaarverslag oor die toestand van renosterbevolkings wêreldwyd gepubliseer en Namibië is geïdentifiseer as die land met die grootste witrenosterbevolking. Die situasie van renosters in Afrika en oor die hele wêreld is egter kommerwekkend. Die aantal witrenosters op die Afrikavasteland het die afgelope jaar weens stropery afgeneem. Met 'n huidige bevolking van ongeveer 18 000, het dié getal die afgelope dekade met 12% afgeneem.

Friday, 24 September 2021
Moser K 2021. Namibia schützt Nashörner gut.

Die internationale Nashornstiftung (IRF) hat seinen jährlichen Bericht zum Zustand der Nashornpopulationen weltweit veröffentlicht und Namibia als Land mit der größten Population von Breitmaulnashörnern ausgewiesen. Allerdings sei die Situation der Nashörner sowohl in Afrika als auch weltweit besorgniserregend. Die Zahlen der Breitmaulnashörner auf dem afrikanischen Kontinent sind im vergangenen Jahr aufgrund von Wilderei geschrumpft. Mit etwa 18 000 Individuen ist die Population im vergangenen Jahrzehnt um 12 Prozent gesunken.

Friday, 11 June 2021
Moser K 2021. Mit Radioaktivität gegen Wilderer.

Nashornwilderei ist in Afrika wieder zu einem großen Problem geworden. Angesichts steigender Fallzahlen und wachsender Sorgen haben Wissenschaftler in einem Pilotprojekt nun einen neuen Ansatz gewählt: Ein mit Radioaktivität versehenes Horn ist ein zu großes Risiko für Wilderer.

Rhino poaching has become a major problem again in Africa. In view of the increasing number of cases and growing concerns, scientists have now chosen a new approach in a pilot project: a horn provided with radioactivity is too great a risk for poachers.

Monday, 3 May 2021
Menges W 2021. State gets luxury car in rhino case.

A Windhoek resident who admitted he possessed rhino horns in the city nearly five years ago suffered an expensive loss at the end of his trial in the Windhoek Regional Court on Friday, with a luxury vehicle which the police had seized from him declared forfeited to the state.

Wednesday, 18 November 2020
Menges W 2020. Poacher's 30-year jail term cut on appeal.

The 30-year prison term of a cattle poacher, who successfully challenged the constitutionality of the severe sentences which were prescribed for stock thieves in Namibia, has been reduced to 12 years by the Supreme Court.

Monday, 9 November 2020
Menges W 2020. Preacher denies bribery charge.

An evangelical preacher who has been in jail since May after being arrested over the possession of rhino horns and the poaching of a rhino in the Gobabis district on Friday denied guilt on a charge of bribery in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court.

Wednesday, 5 August 2020
Menges W 2020. Bail appeal fails in rhino horns case.

An Angolan teacher facing charges over the theft of 33 rhino horns during a burglary at Outjo last year was correctly refused bail by a magistrate in May, a High Court judge has ruled.

Monday, 27 July 2020
Menges W 2020. From The Courts ... Ex-magistrate lied at bail hearing.

A self-styled 'prophet' who has been in police custody for the past two months after being arrested on charges of rhino poaching and dealing in or possessing two rhino horns, is planning to apply for bail this week. Jackson Babi, who uses the title 'prophet' and is the founder of the House of Joy Ministries evangelical religious group in Windhoek, will launch a bail application in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court on Thursday, defence lawyer Kadhila Amoomo informed magistrate Linus Samunzala during a court appearance by Babi and a co-accused, Frizans Naululu Dumeni, on Friday…

Monday, 8 June 2020
Menges W 2020. Preacher questions rhino poaching arrest.

Religious preacher Jackson Babi, who is facing criminal charges after rhino horns were allegedly discovered in his house in Windhoek, is claiming the police's search of his home and also his second arrest last week were unlawful.

Tuesday, 2 June 2020
Menges W 2020. Preacher gets date for bail hearing.

A Windhoek-based preacher who was last week arrested after two rhino horns were allegedly found at his house is due to apply for bail in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court tomorrow.

Tuesday, 8 October 2019
Menges W 2019. No bail for alleged rhino poaching ring kingpin.

A business man based in northern Namibia who is charged over the poaching of two rhinos near Etosha National Park is facing an extended stay in jail, after his appeal against being denied bail failed in the Windhoek High Court last week.

Friday, 3 May 2019
Menges W 2019. Pensioner fined over illegal wildlife products.

An elderly Chinese man who admitted that he had illegal wildlife products, including a rhinoceros horn, and a firearm in his possession at the start of last year was sentenced to pay fines totalling N$156 000 by the Windhoek Regional Court this week.

Monday, 11 February 2019
Menges W 2019. Etosha poacher gets fines or eight years in jail.

A resident of the Kunene region whose attempt to poach a rhinoceros in Etosha National Park ended in the death of his partner in crime and his own arrest, was sentenced to an effective fine of N$34 000 or eight years' imprisonment on Friday.

Monday, 5 March 2018
Menges W 2018. Rhino horn charge could return after withdrawal.

A Chinese resident of Namibia who was charged with the illegal possession of two rhino horns early last year is off the hook - for now at least - after the charge against him was withdrawn in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court last week.

Thursday, 1 February 2018
Menges W 2018. Abalone charges withdrawn after Chinese man flees.

The charges against a Windhoek man who allegedly helped a Chinese national export abalone from Namibia two years ago were withdrawn in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court yesterday. With Chinese citizen Zhi Geng (38) absent from the court after he jumped bail last year, public prosecutor Tatelo Lusepani informed magistrate Gerrit van Pletzen yesterday that the state was provisionally withdrawing the charges against Geng's co-accused, Windhoek resident James Barron Wallace (49).

Thursday, 6 July 2017
Menges W State takes bail money of fugitive Chinese.

The N$300 000 that was paid to get a Chinese national bailed out of jail following his arrest on a charge of possession of rhino horns early this year was declared finally forfeited to the state yesterday.

Monday, 26 June 2017
Menges W 2017. Arrest warrant issued in rhino horn case.

A Chinese man who was arrested and charged after the police found two rhinoceros horns at a rented flat in Windhoek early this year is now a fugitive from justice, having failed to attend a scheduled court appearance last week. With the 29-year-old Chen Nan absent from the Windhoek Magistrate's Court, where he was supposed to appear for the first time since being granted bail in April, magistrate Vanessa Stanley on Wednesday issued a warrant for his arrest, provisionally cancelled his bail and provisionally declared his bail deposit of N$300 000 forfeited to…

Wednesday, 25 January 2017
Menges W 2017. Ministry doubts poaching of rhino.

The Ministry of Environment and Tourism has doubts whether a rhinoceros cow that was found dead at a game farm in the Otjiwarongo area on Monday was poached as initially thought.

Wednesday, 25 January 2017
Menges W 2017. Rhino poached at game farm.

A rhinoceros cow was found poached at a game farm south of Otjiwarongo on Monday. The white rhino cow, named Maria, was found dead with a gunshot wound to her neck, game farm owner WP Barnard told The Namibian yesterday.

Tuesday, 17 January 2017
Menges W 2017. Doubts raised over 'poaching' of rhino.

The Ministry of Environment and Tourism and the police have expressed doubts that a rhinoceros cow found dead at a game farm in the Otjiwarongo area on Monday was poached as initially thought.

Wednesday, 4 January 2017
Menges W 2015. Three charged over killing of rhinos.

Former Brave Warriors football team medic Gerson Kandjii and two other men arrested over the killing of two rhinoceroses at a farm in the Gobabis district shortly before Christmas are due to make a first appearance in the Gobabis Magistrate's Court early next week.

Thursday, 1 December 2016
Menges W 2016. Airport cop charged over rhino horns.

The arrest of a Chinese citizen who allegedly managed to smuggle 18 rhinoceros horns out of Namibia last week landed a member of the Namibian Police in the dock in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court in Katutura yesterday.

Monday, 3 October 2016
Menges W 2016. Rhino horn smugglers want to appeal.

Four Chinese citizens sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment each in connection with an attempt to smuggle rhinoceros horns and a leopard skin out of Namibia in March 2014, will appeal against their conviction and sentences.

Friday, 30 September 2016
Menges W 2016. Rhino horn smugglers get 14 years in prison.

Four Chinese citizens convicted of having tried to smuggle 14 rhinoceros horns and a leopard skin out of Namibia in March 2014 were sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment each at the end of their trial today.

Tuesday, 27 September 2016
Menges W 2016. Poaching could wipe out rhino population.

Namibia could lose its entire rhinoceros population in the next 10 years if the rate at which poachers have been killing these endangered animals in recent years continues unchecked. Poachers have killed 201 rhinos in Namibia since 2011, and their crimes have not only had an environmental impact, but also an economic one.

Monday, 19 September 2016
Menges W 2016. Chinese men guilty over rhino horns in luggage.

The discovery of a hoard of rhino horns and a leopard skin in two suitcases at Hosea Kutako International Airport in March 2014 led to the conviction of four Chinese citizens on two criminal charges in the Windhoek Regional Court on Friday.

Friday, 16 September 2016
Menges W 2016. Chinese foursome convicted over rhino horns.

Four Chinese citizens who were accused of having tried to smuggle a hoard of rhino horns and one leopard skin out of Namibia in March 2014 were found guilty on two charges in the Windhoek Regional Court today.

Thursday, 1 September 2016
Menges W 2016. Chinese man fined over rhino horn in parcel.

A Chinese citizen who tried to send a piece of rhino horn out of Namibia in a parcel was sentenced to pay fines totalling N$40 000 or serve a two-year prison term yesterday.

Friday, 12 August 2016
Menges W 2016. Rhino horns foursome kept waiting for verdict.

The delivery of the verdict in the trial of four Chinese citizens charged with having tried to smuggle a hoard of rhino horns out of Namibia in March 2014, has again been postponed by a month.

Monday, 27 June 2016
Menges W 2016. Two granted bail in rhino horn case.

Two businessmen who spent a week in police custody after they were arrested in connection with an alleged attempt to sell four rhino horns, have been released on bail of N$50 000 each. Windhoek resident Tangi Sheefeni Amon Namwandi (32), who is also known as 'Mox', and Jairus Shaalukeni (32), who lives at Ongwediva, were granted bail when they made a second appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court in Katutura on a charge of possessing or dealing in rhino horns on Thursday last week.

Monday, 23 May 2016
Menges W 2016. Verdict awaited in rhino horn smuggling trial.

Four Chinese citizens accused of having attempted to smuggle two suitcases filled with rhino horns and a leopard skin out of Namibia in March 2014, are due to hear the verdict in their trial next month.

Wednesday, 24 February 2016
Menges W 2016. Poca assets order against two abalone accused.

The prosecutor general has bank accounts and six cars belonging to a Chinese citizen and a Namibian man facing charges of possessing and trying to export the shellfish abalone from Namibia in her sights.

Thursday, 4 February 2016
Menges W 2016. Two charged over rhino horn and abalone.

The discovery of close to 100 kilogrammes of dried abalone and more than a kilogramme of rhino horn pieces in Windhoek this week landed a Chinese citizen and a Namibian man in the dock in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court yesterday.

Tuesday, 15 December 2015
Menges W 2015. Rhino horn trial moves on to defence case.

The trial of four Chinese citizens accused of having tried to smuggle two suitcases containing rhino horns out of Namibia in March last year is scheduled to continue in the Windhoek Regional Court next month.

Monday, 23 November 2015
Menges W 2015. Rhino slaughter continues.

The killing of rhinoceroses in the supposed safety of Etosha National Park is continuing, despite intensified efforts to clamp down on poaching in Namibia. The carcasses of another two black rhinos that had been killed for their horns were found in the south-western part of Etosha National Park early last week, a police spokesperson, chief inspector Kauna Shikwambi, confirmed on Friday. Shikwambi said both carcasses were found in the area between the Otjovasando air strip and Renostervlei in the far western part of Etosha. The horns of both animals had been removed.

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