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.
Explore your search results using the filter checkboxes, or amend your search or start a new search.
Laut Polizeibericht wurden Elefantenstoßzähne beschlagnahmt, ein Verdächtiger festgenommen und sieben weiteren Verdächtigten gelang es, zu flüchten, nachdem Polizisten und Mitglieder der Anti-Wilderei-Einheit des Umweltministeriums sowie namibische Soldaten ein Fahrzeug anhielten, das unter Verdacht stand, in den Schmuggel von Wildtierprodukten verwickelt zu sein. Der Vorfall ereignete sich früh am vergangenen Freitag. Der Einsatz war die Folge von eingegangenen Informationen, die zur Verfolgung sambischer Staatsangehöriger führte.
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NAM_2023_11_Sambische Elefantenwilderer festgenommen_Allgemeine Zeitung.pdf | 351.09 KB |
NAM_2023_11_Zambian elephant poachers arrested_Allgemeine Zeitung_Eng.pdf | 348.25 KB |
Nachdem eine Anti-Wilderer-Einheit zwei Wilddiebe gefasst hatte, stellt sich heraus, dass sich diese scheinbaren Gewohnheitsverbrecher für zahlreiche Wilderei-Fälle oder sogar wegen versuchten Mordes im Gericht verantworten müssen. Staatsankläger scheinen die schwerwiegenden Vorwürfe kaum zu beachten, sodass die Angeklagten oft ungeschoren davonkommen.
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NAM_2023_11_Wilddiebe wiederholt Angeklagt_Allgemeine Zeitung.pdf | 388.85 KB |
NAM_2023_11_Poachers repeatedly charged_Allgemeine Zeitung_Eng.pdf | 423.46 KB |
A media team from Namibia Media Holdings (NMH) during a visit to the area east of the road from Katima Mulilo to the border point at the Ngoma bridge and past the Nakabolelwa settlement en route to Impalila Island on the breeding area of the southern red-breasted bee-eater in the Kabulabula Conservation Area. The breeding area is strategically covered with nylon mesh in such a way that the birds become entangled in it when leaving or entering their nests.
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NAM_2023_09_Red_breasted bee_Eaters caught with nets in the north_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 1.17 MB |
A 51-year-old man is expected to appear in a Free State court after he was found with abalone shells worth more than R300,000. The man was arrested in Bayswater in Mangaung on Thursday afternoon after intelligence-led information led police to his home, Free State police spokesperson Lt-Col Thabo Covane said. "A team made up of tactical response team members and detectives arrived at the targeted unit in the identified complex at about 12.45pm." Members tactically gained access to the unit and found the male hiding inside the bedroom.
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SA_2023_05_Man arrested in Free State with 782 abalone shells worth R300K_TimesLive.pdf | 222.56 KB |
Botswana's government has presented to the ongoing CITES CoP-19 in Panama a detailed document on the country's efforts to contain rhino poaching which increased at least 100 fold between 2018 and 2020. The country recorded two rhino poaching incidents in the five years between 2012 and 2017 with zero incidents reported in 2012, 2014, 2015, and 2017.
Botswana' Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) has confirmed the recent arrest of a man found in possession of a live pangolin in the capital Gaborone. The department says the incident was reported to them by the Botswana Police, raising concern about the continued poaching of pangolins.
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BOT_2022_11_Botswana man arrested for possession of live pangolin_Independent.pdf | 277.61 KB |
'n Mynmaatskappy word toegelaat om sy aktiwiteite in die Huab-gebied uit te voer ondanks 'n swak omgewingsimpakstudie en geen konsultasies met geraakte bewaringsorganisasies nie.
A mining company is allowed to carry out its activities in the Huab area despite a poor Environmental Impact Study and no consultations with affected conservation organizations.
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NAM_2022_11_Mynbou bedryg Huab se renosters_Republikein.pdf | 358.79 KB |
NAM_2022_11_Mining threatens Huabs rhinos_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 356.21 KB |
//Huab Conservancy und Rhino Rangers verlieren Lebensgrundlage. Ein weiteres Bergbauprojekt nimmt seinen Anfang, obwohl es das CBNRM-Programm als Grundsatz für Kommunalhegegebiete gefährdet. Ein Bergbauunternehmen darf am Huab-Rivier seine Aktivitäten trotz mangelhafter Umweltverträglichkeitsprüfung aufnehmen und gefährdet sogar den Nashornschutz. Das Umweltministerium versäumt indessen seine Pflicht.
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NAM_2022_11_Bergbau bedraengt jetzt Rhinos_Allgemeine Zeitung.pdf | 534.47 KB |
NAM_2022_11_Mining is now harassing rhinos_Allgemeine Zeitung_Eng.pdf | 547.49 KB |
Die Zahl der Nashörner, die in diesem Jahr gewildert wurden, liegt nun bei 57, verglichen mit den 44 Nashörnern, die im vergangenen Jahr von Wilderern getötet worden waren. Der Sprecher des Umweltministeriums, Romeo Muyunda, bestätigte auf Nachfrage, dass in der vergangenen Woche zwei Breitmaulnashörner auf privaten Farmen gewildert wurden. Er sagte, dass es zwar in letzter Zeit im Etoscha-Nationalpark zu Wilderei gekommen sei, dass aber in der vergangenen Woche keine Nashörner im Park gewildert worden seien.
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NAM_2022_10_Nashorn Wilderei nimmt zu_Allgemeine Zeitung.pdf | 499.16 KB |
NAM_2022_10_Rhino poaching on the rise_Allgemeine Zeitun_Eng.pdf | 495.58 KB |
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.
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NAM_2022_09_PG revives wildlife crimes case_The Namibian.pdf | 638.18 KB |
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.
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NAM_2022_09_Accused man off hook on wildlife charges_The Namibian.pdf | 656.14 KB |
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.
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NAM_2022_09_Owners to lose cars over wildlife crimes_The Namibian.pdf | 503.14 KB |
A white rhino has reportedly been killed and dehorned by poachers inside the protected Khama Rhino Sanctuary (KRS) in Botswana. Two separate conservationists have reported about the killing. One conservationist told this publication that their sources inside the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) confirmed the incident. "Two weeks ago a white rhino was poached at Khama Rhino Sanctuary but they are denying it happened at their property but sources inside DWNP confirm it was indeed at KRS."
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BOT_08_Rhino killed at Khama Sanctuary_Sunday Standard.pdf | 437.09 KB |
Vor knapp zehn Tagen gab das Ministerium für Umwelt, Forstwirtschaft und Tourismus (MEFT) bekannt, dass ihre Mitarbeiter im Etoscha-Nationalpark seit Anfang Juni 2022 elf Nashornkadaver entdeckt hätten (AZ berichtete). Nun gab MEFT-Pressesprecher Romeo Muyunda bekannt, dass ihm ein weiterer Fall bekannt sei, wodurch die Zahl der gewilderten Nashörner auf zwölf zu stehen kommt.
"The absence of tourists in conservation areas enables poachers to act more freely. In normal times, tourists act as additional 'eyes and ears' in conservation areas, and their presence deters poachers from acting, but the decline in tourism activity emboldened poachers," a UK government report on the impact of Covid-19 on poaching has said.
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BOT_2022_04_Increased movement in wildlife areas reduces poaching activities_Sunday Standard.pdf | 343.45 KB |
Poaching intensified over the past three years following the 2018 decision by the government to disarm the anti-poaching unit under the DWNP. The 100+ rhinos poached since the disarmament represents a 100+ percent increase in poaching incidents when compared to the previous three years when Botswana lost one rhino per annum in the preceding 2015, 2016, and 2017 when the unit had firearms. There were at least 12 rhinos poached in 2018, 29 rhinos in 2019, and over 50 poached by the end of 2020.
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BOT_2021_11_Botswana struggles with rising cases of rhino poaching_Independent Co.pdf | 716.01 KB |
A game farm in the Otavi area is offering a reward of N$50 000 for information that would lead to the arrest of the poachers who killed two nursing white rhino cows last weekend. Both rhinos had young calves. One calf was found, but another remains missing. Only one of the carcasses was dehorned. The other rhino escaped from the criminals, but died of her wounds in the bush.
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NAM_2021_05_Rhino cows poached at Ghaub_Namibian Sun.pdf | 394.92 KB |
'n Renosterkalfie is steeds soek nadat haar ma, wat met die hand grootgemaak is, en nóg ‘n witrenoster die afgelope naweek op ‘n gasteplaas gestroop is. ‘n Hartseer mnr. Joachim Rust van Ghaub Nature Reserve and Farm het gister vertel hoe hulle die tweejarige Zanna in 2014 as 'n kalfie gered en met ‘n melkbottel moes grootmaak. Zanna se ma het ná swaar reën in diep modder op ‘n plaas naby Waterberg vasgeval en is van uitputting dood. Zanna se karkas is Sondag in die veld gevind. Sy is geskiet en onthoring. Haar kalfie van 18 maande kon nie opgespoor word nie.
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NAM_2021_05_Renosters gestroop_kalfie soek_Republikein.pdf | 397.01 KB |
NAM_2021_05_Rhinos poached_calf search_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 299.13 KB |
Ein Gastbetrieb im Otavi-Dreieck beklagt den Verlust von zwei Breitmaulnashörnern, die am vergangenen Wochenende Wilderern zum Opfer fielen. In beiden Fällen waren es Kühe, die junge Kälber mit sich führten - eines wurde gefunden, doch ein weiteres bleibt verschollen. Nur eines der Tiere wurde enthornt. Das andere entkam zwar den Verbrechern, verendete dann aber qualvoll im Busch in Folge einer Bauchverletzung.
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NAM_2021_05_Nashorner auf Ghaub gewildert_Allgemeine Zeitung.pdf | 610.71 KB |
NAM_2021_05_Rhinos poached on Ghaub_Allgemeine Zeitung_Eng.pdf | 605.64 KB |
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.
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NAM_2021_05_State gets luxury car in rhino case_The Namibian.pdf | 636.54 KB |
Umweltminister Pohamba Shifeta präsentiert Zahlen und Statistiken, die eine deutliche Verminderung der Anzahl WildereiVorfälle anzeigt, aber andererseits eine ständige Zunahme der Verhaftungen vorweist. Er zeigt sich zufrieden mit den eingeführten Kontrollen, moniert aber die ständige Kritik an dem Programm des MEFT, das versucht die Dickhäuter unter Kontrolle zu bringen.
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NAM_2021-02_Wildschutzstrategie bis 2026_Allgemeine Zeitung.pdf | 578.16 KB |
NAM_2021-02_Wildlife protection strategy until 2026_Allgemeine Zeitung_Eng.pdf | 573.62 KB |
BIOPAMA: 200000 Euro für Schutz des Spitzmaulnashorns. Knapp 3,8 Millionen N$ soll der Naturschutzfonds Save the Rhino Trust in den kommenden zwei Jahren zwecks verbesserter Ausbildung und Nachrüstung der Naturschutzbeamten in den Kommunalgebieten empfangen, in denen die letzten freilebenden Spitzmaulnashörner Namibias und sogar der Welt vorkommen.
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NAM_2020_12_SRT großzuegig unterstuetzt_Allgemeine Zeitung.pdf | 2.51 MB |
NAM_2020_12_SRT generously supported_Allgemeine Zeitung_ENG.pdf | 2.51 MB |
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.
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NAM_2020-11_Poachers 30_year jail term cut on appeal_The Namibian_2.pdf | 777.56 KB |
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.
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NAM_2020-11_Preacher denies bribery charge_The Namibian.pdf | 714.47 KB |
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.
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NAM_2020-08_Bail appeal fails in rhino horns case_The Namibian.pdf | 447.85 KB |
The Director of the Directorate of Intelligence and Security (DIS) Brigadier Peter Magosi has defended government’s decision to dehorn Botswana’s rhinos as an anti-poaching control measure. Magosi has said the dehorning of rhinos was the only way they could ensure protection of the animals from poachers.
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BOT_2020-07_Its better to show tourists a dehorned rhino than nothing at all_Magosi_Sunday Standard.pdf | 197.57 KB |
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…
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NAM_2020-07_From The Courts_E_magistrate lied at bail hearing_The Namibian.pdf | 458.35 KB |
Umweltministerium setzt auf Nachhaltigkeit und bekämpft erfolgreich die Wilderei. Obwohl der Sektor als maßgebliches Wirtschaftsstandbein gehandelt wird, steht das Ministerium für Umwelt, Forstwirtschaft und Tourismus mit seinem Ausgabenplan im namibischen Haushalt für 2020-21 gerade Mal an 16. Stelle von insgesamt 33 Ausgabenposten. Der Minister verlässt sich indessen auf viel Hilfe aus Deutschland und von weiteren Entwicklungspartnern.
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NAM_2020-06_Große Plaene mit wenig Geldmitteln_Allgemeine Zeitung.pdf | 368.36 KB |
NAM_2020-06_Big plans with little money_Allgemeine Zeitung_Eng.pdf | 265.53 KB |
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.
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NAM_2020-06_Preacher questions rhino poaching arrest_The Namibian.pdf | 555.74 KB |
Prophet Babi und Mitbeschuldigte Teil eines größeren Wilderei-Syndikats. Kurz bevor der aufsehenerregende "Prophet Babi" und der mitbeschuldigte Dumeni dem Haftrichter vorgeführt werden, werden neue Wilderei-Fälle bekannt, in die Babi ebenfalls verstrickt sein soll. Die Kaution wird ihm verweigert und am Montag muss er wieder vor den Kadi.
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NAM_2020-06_Wilderern wird Kaution verweigert_Allgemeine Zeitung.pdf | 498.6 KB |
NAM_2020-06_Poachers are denied bail_Allgemeine Zeitung_Eng.pdf | 405.98 KB |
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.
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NAM_2020-06_Preacher gets date for bail hearing_The Namibian.pdf | 682.96 KB |
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.
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NAM_2019-10_No bail for alleged rhino poaching ring kingpin_The Namibian.pdf | 416.4 KB |
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.
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NAM_2019-05_Pensioner fined over illegal wildlife products_The Namibian.pdf | 589.65 KB |
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.
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NAM_2019-02_Etosha poacher gets fines or eight years in jail_The Namibian.pdf | 662.47 KB |
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.
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NAM_2018-03_Rhino horn charge could return after withdrawal_The Namibian.pdf | 327.62 KB |
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).
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NAM_2018-02_Abalone charges withdrawn after Chinese man flees_The Namibian.pdf | 407.3 KB |
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.
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NAM_2017-07_State takes bail money of fugitive Chinese_The Namibian.pdf | 688 KB |
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…
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NAM_2017-06_Arrest warrant issued in rhino horn case_The Namibian.pdf | 572.27 KB |
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.
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NAM_2017-01_Rhino poached at game farm_The Namibian.pdf | 688.68 KB |
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.
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NAM_2017-01_Ministry doubts poaching of rhino_The Namibian.pdf | 585.57 KB |
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.
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NAM_2017-01_Doubts raised over poaching of rhino_The Namibian.pdf | 244.76 KB |
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.
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NAM_2017-01_Three charged over killing of rhinos_The Namibian.pdf | 371.41 KB |
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.
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NAM_2016-12_Airport cop charged over rhino horns_The Namibian.pdf | 534.41 KB |
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.
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NAM_2016-10_Rhino horn smugglers want to appeal_The Namibian.pdf | 665.14 KB |
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.
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NAM_2016-09_Rhino horn smugglers get 14 years in prison_The Namibian.pdf | 754.09 KB |
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.
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NAM_2016-09_Poaching could wipe out rhino population_The Namibian.pdf | 664.32 KB |
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.
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NAM_2016-09_Chinese men guilty over rhino horns in luggage_The Namibian.pdf | 610.48 KB |
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.
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NAM_2016-09_Chinese foursome convicted over rhino horns_The Namibian.pdf | 252.92 KB |
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.
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NAM_2016-09_Chinese man fined over rhino horn in parcel_The Namibian.pdf | 211.06 KB |
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.
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NAM_2016-08_Rhino horns foursome kept waiting for verdict_The Namibian.pdf | 472.82 KB |