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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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 chance encounter over 35 years ago changed the lives of two women after realising that they share the same passion for wildlife conservation.
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NAM_2019-04_Saving Namibias last black rhinos_The Namibian.pdf | 634.86 KB |
There are worrying signs that Namibia's legendary wild game numbers may be plummeting.
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NAM_2019-04_Troubled times for Namibian wildlife_The Namibian.pdf | 1002.93 KB |
An iron fist should be used against people who commit crimes against endangered wildlife in Namibia, a judge commented in an appeal judgement handed down in the Windhoek High Court on Friday.
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NAM_2019-04_Rhino horn appeal backfires_The Namibian.pdf | 359.41 KB |
A bail application hearing for a 35-year-old businessman linked to poached black and white rhinos at a private game farm near Etosha National Park in the Kunene Region is underway in the Outjo Magistrate's Court.
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NAM_2019-04_Bail hearing for businessman linked to poached rhinos underway_The Namibian.pdf | 963.21 KB |
Namibia was commended for its efforts to address the challenges trafficking in wild fauna and flora pose to the country's natural resources and its social and economic development.
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NAM_2019-03_Namibia commended for efforts against fauna and flora trafficking_The Namibian.pdf | 362.73 KB |
Six suspected poachers were arrested in Zambezi region after they were found in possession of four elephant tusks, two elephant tails and one zebra skin yesterday.
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NAM_2019-03_Six in for possession of tusks_zebra skin_The Namibian.pdf | 284.23 KB |
A protected black rhino in the Erongo Mountain Rhino Sanctuary nearly lost a foot after it was caught in a snare set by poachers recently.
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NAM_2019-03_Erongo rhino sanctuary targeted_The Namibian.pdf | 186.65 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 |
About 45 members of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Africa rhino specialist group yesterday met at Okahandja to discuss ways to curb rhino poaching.
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NAM_2019-02_African rhino specialists work to curb poaching_The Namibian.pdf | 535.13 KB |
The story of Namibia's rhino poaching is a tale often told in black and white. There are villains, there are victims and there are the activists loudly lamenting our rhinos' imminent extinction.
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NAM_2019-01_Local Film Baxu and the Giants Seeks Support_Stars_The Namibian.pdf | 428.31 KB |
Two suspected poachers were arrested on Friday in the Zambezi region for being in possession of zebra meat without a permit.
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NAM_2019-01_Two suspected zebra poachers arrested_The Namibian.pdf | 505.17 KB |
South African police raided an illegal Vietnamese lion and tiger bone syndicate operating in the North West at the weekend, after at least 40 lions were reportedly killed at a lion farm near Klerksdorp. According to Hawks spokesperson captain Tlangelani Rikhotso, six foreigners and two South African men were nabbed in the multi-disciplinary operation conducted by members of the Potchefstroom Crime Intelligence unit, the Hawks and the Potchefstroom and Klerksdorp flying squads units.
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SA_2018-12_Eight arrested for cutting up lions in North West_The Namibian.pdf | 547.01 KB |
A dehorned carcass of a rhino suspected to have been shot by poachers in the Hardap region was found on Saturday.
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NAM_2018-11_Rhino killed another wounded in Hardap_The Namibian.pdf | 179.07 KB |
Katima Mulilio - Three people were arrested for poaching at Masokotwani in the Zambezi region on Tuesday morning. The three men, two Namibians and one Zambian, were found in possession of three reed bucks and three duikers around 03h00.
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NAM_2018-10_Three arrested for poaching at Masokotwani_The Namibian.pdf | 173.97 KB |
The World Rhino Day was first celebrated by WWF South Africa in 2010. Since then the world has followed suit to spread awareness of the need to save the five species of rhino. Namibia celebrated the day on 22 September at Khorixas with deputy environment minister Bernadette Jagger officiating.
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NAM_2018-09_Youth urged to protect Namibias rhino_The Namibian.pdf | 416.12 KB |
The environment ministry last week inaugurated the dog unit that will be used for wildlife protection and law-enforcement.
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NAM_2018-09_Dog unit for wildlife protection launched_The Namibian.pdf | 331.44 KB |
Well-heeled businessmen are allegedly driving the trade in poached rhino horn in Namibia, using marginal communities as foot soldiers, an amaBhungane/The Namibian investigation has revealed. The role of local entrepreneurs in the horn trade has not previously been highlighted. The popular perception in Namibia is that Chinese nationals are the kingpins in charge of the trade.
The illegal hunting of bush meat, or game meat, has long distressed wildlife conservationists. It has persisted in sub-Saharan Africa, attracting international attention and debate. Enforcement by authorities and community-based initiatives have been tried as anti-poaching approaches, but with mixed results. Overall, wildlife populations have continued to plummet. Why has poaching refused to go away? The answer, as suggested by poachers themselves, is simple: Because poaching pays.
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NAM_2018-05_Why Poachers Persist In Hunting Bush Meat_The Namibian.pdf | 559.3 KB |
A Chinese non-governmental organisation, China House, has taken the initiative to launch a campaign that enhances wildlife conservation amongst the Chinese community. Zoe Huang, director of research and development at China House, said the campaign started on 23 April, and will focus on educating Chinese nationals about wildlife conservation and the consequences of poaching.
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NAM_2018-05_Volunteers teach Chinese about wildlife conservation_The Namibian.pdf | 246.55 KB |
A 33-year-old man made his first appearance in the Karibib Magistrate's Court yesterday after he was found in possession of oryx meat believed to have been poached.
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NAM_2018-04_Man in court over oryx meat_The Namibian.pdf | 219.02 KB |
Police in the Zambezi region are calling on community members who have a missing relative to come and identify the body of a suspected poacher who was killed during a chase over the weekend in the Bwabwata National Park. Zambezi regional police commissioner Karel Theron yesterday said the man was killed during a shoot-out between the police, members of the anti-poaching unit, and suspected poachers on Saturday.
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NAM_2018-04_Suspected poacher killed by police_The Namibian.pdf | 385.79 KB |
Africa's rhino population figures are at a critical all-time low. In 2015, Cites reported that only about 19 000 - 21 000 white rhinos and 5 000 - 5 500 black rhinos remain in Africa. Namibia and South Africa have the largest rhino populations, with a total of approximately 2 760 rhinos in Namibia, and 20 300 rhinos in South Africa. Smaller rhino populations can be found in Kenya, Botswana and Zimbabwe.
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NAM_2018-04_The debate on rhino horn trading_The Namibian.pdf | 347.92 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 |
Karibib District Watch members arrested four suspects on Wednesday night for poaching an oryx in the Wilhelmstal area. An incident report from the Karibib District Watch stated that at around 21h00, gunshots were heard on a farm in the area, suggesting the presence of poachers. Three teams of the watch group's members were immediately dispatched, with the Karibib, Omaruru and Okahandja police called to assist, together with the Omaruru District Watch.
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NAM_2018-02_Four caught poaching near Wilhelmstal_The Namibian.pdf | 181.38 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 |
Five suspects who were arrested last week for being in possession of four elephant tusks were denied bail in the Katima Mulilo Magisitrate's Court on Monday.
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NAM_2018-01_Five suspected poachers denied bail_The Namibian.pdf | 350.32 KB |
The police in the Zambezi region have arrested four Namibians and one Zambian suspect after they were allegedly found in possession of four elephant tusks on Friday.
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NAM_2018-01_Five suspected poachers arrested in Zambezi_The Namibian.pdf | 353.32 KB |
Environment minister Pohamba Shifeta yesterday said the Chinese government's ban on trade in ivory will only make the black market for rhino horns and elephant tusks more lucrative.
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NAM_2018-01_Ivory ban will boost illegal trade_Shifeta_The Namibian.pdf | 379.37 KB |
Ohangwena police on Friday arrested three men found with two fresh rhino horns. The trio were arrested at a temporary roadblock at Omungwelume. According to Ohangwena police spokesperson, sergeant Abner Kaume Itumba, the men were travelling in a seven-seater vehicle when they were arrested.
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NAM_2017-12_Three arrested with two rhino horns_The Namibian.pdf | 188.66 KB |
The suspected poacher who was severely injured by a rhino last week in the Etosha National Park succumbed to his injuries on Saturday.
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NAM_2017-10_Suspected rhino poacher dies_The Namibian.pdf | 394.83 KB |
Fewer cases of poaching have been recorded across the country so far this year, announced environment minister Pohamba Shifeta in Windhoek yesterday. Shifeta said this at a media conference at which he announced that 27 rhinos have been paoched so far this year, compared to 60 in all of 2016 and 95 in 2015. Shifeta also said 20 elephants have been poached this year, compared to 101 in 2016 and 49 in 2015.
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NAM_2017-10_Poaching cases down this year_The Namibian.pdf | 276.24 KB |
The Namibian Chamber of Environment has launched an outreach programme to educate Namibians about the precarious status of the pangolin. The initiative, which involves producing large posters and thousands of business card-sized mini-posters for distribution countrywide, is to raise awareness and appeal to every Namibian to help stop the illegal trade in the animal.
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NAM_2017-10_Initiative to save the pangolin_The Namibian.pdf | 209.72 KB |
A suspected poacher was severely injured by a rhino in the Etosha National Park on Saturday evening. Warrant officer Simson Shilongo of the police in Kunene told The Namibian yesterday that Luteni Muharukua (age unknown) and other alleged poachers had entered the national park illegally to poach rhinos.
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NAM_2017-10_Rhino injures suspected poacher_The Namibian.pdf | 277.81 KB |
The Namibian Chamber of Environment has launched an outreach programme to educate Namibians about the precarious status of the pangolin. The initiative, which involves producing large posters and thousands of business card-sized mini-posters for distribution countrywide, is to raise awareness and appeal to every Namibian to help stop the illegal trade in the animal.
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NAM_2017-10_Initiative to save the pangolin_The Namibian_0.pdf | 209.72 KB |
In the Namibian newspaper of 13 September 2017, under the heading 'N$25m per person killed by wildlife', a participant in one of the consultative meetings held in the Zambezi region by the National Council standing committee on habitat criticised the Ministry of Environment and Tourism for placing more value on an animal's life than on a human's life.
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NAM_2017-10_Putting Namibias Wildlife Crime Penalties in Perspective_The Namibian.pdf | 561.69 KB |
Since 2012, after more than two decades of low numbers of poaching incidents involving elephant and rhino, Namibia has experienced an alarming increase in the poaching of these two species. The Ministry of Environment and Tourism recently reported that a total of 245 elephants were poached between 2014 and 2017, while a total of 241 rhino were poached between 2012 and 2017.
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NAM_2017-08_Penalties For Poaching_The Namibian.pdf | 461.51 KB |
Two rhino carcasses were discovered in the Kunene and Erongo regions, bringing the number of poached rhinos to 26 in 2017, said the environment ministry yesterday.
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NAM_2017-08_Seven arrested for rhino poaching_The Namibian.pdf | 212.21 KB |
Two Namibian men were arrested on Saturday afternoon at a roadblock in the Ohangwena region after police found two fresh rhino horns in their luggage. According to Ohangwena police spokesman sergeant Abner Kaume Itumba, the men aged 29 and 32 were arrested at the Onhuno roadblock in the Helao Nafidi town.
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NAM_2017-08_Two men found with fresh rhino horns_The Namibian.pdf | 199.85 KB |
Please allow me space in your esteemed newspaper to air my views regarding the latest review of the law that was passed by lawmakers to deal with poachers and would-be poachers.
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NAM_2017-08_Poaching versus Human Lives_The Namibian.pdf | 238.3 KB |
The High Court here on Tuesday allowed the State to appeal the prison sentences imposed in the case of four Chinese nationals convicted of attempting to smuggle rhino horns out of Namibia in 2014.
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NAM_2017-02_State allowed to appeal rhino sentences_The Namibian.pdf | 628.23 KB |
Anti-poaching organisation 'Help our Rhinos NOW Namibia' (HoRN.NAM) has called on the public in the Kunene region and across the country to report wildlife crimes.
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NAM_2017-07_N$10 000 reward for reporting poaching_The Namibian.pdf | 556.88 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 |
Erongo police are hunting for suspected poachers who killed a pregnant rhino cow on a game lodge near Omaruru over the weekend. The owner of the farm declined to comment, and requested this newspaper not to mention the name of the lodge for fear that it may attract more illegal activity for the rest of the game on the farm.
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NAM_2017-07_Pregnant rhino poached near Omaruru_The Namibian.pdf | 182.13 KB |
Seven of the eight rhino carcasses found at the Etosha National Park this week show that the animals had been poached. According to the environment ministry's chief public relations officer, Romeo Muyunda, the eighth animal had died of natural causes. In a statement yesterday, he said no arrests had been made, and reiterated the government's offer of N$60 000 for anyone providing information which could lead to the apprehension of the suspects. The eight rhino carcasses were discovered in the park between 23 and 25 June 2017.
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NAM_2017-06_Seven rhinos poached in Etosha_The Namibian.pdf | 177.44 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 |
The four suspected poachers who were arrested on Saturday following a shoot-out with the police at Khorixas will remain in custody after the court denied them bail.
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NAM_2017-06_Suspected poachers remanded in custody_The Namibian.pdf | 217.05 KB |
Police are investigating an employee of a multinational courier company for attempting to smuggle rhino horns through Eros airport, police spokesperson, commissioner Edwin Kanguatjivi said yesterday.
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NAM_2017-05_Courier worker suspected in rhino horn smuggling_The Namibian.pdf | 249.22 KB |
A defence force member and two other men from Okahandja appeared in the Walvis Bay Magistrate's Court yesterday on charges of possessing two rhino horns. The soldier, Petrus Mutako Damaseb (49), who is based at Okahandja, and Steven Omeb (29), appeared in court yesterday and were denied bail, while the third man was released due to lack of evidence linking him to the alleged crime.
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NAM_2017-04_Three in dock over rhino horns_The Namibian.pdf | 262.04 KB |
Anyone found illegally selling controlled wildlife will be fined N$25 million instead of the current N$20 000, while jail time which is five now goes up to 20 years.
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NAM_2017-04_N$25m or 20 years for illegal wildlife sales_The Namibian.pdf | 480.63 KB |