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.
Local so-called prophet Jackson Babi and his co-accused Frizans Naululu Dumeni who were due to appear in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court yesterday for a bail application had their criminal case postponed to 24 July for further police investigations. The duo were arrested for illegally possessing two rhino horns and for the possession of a firearm and ammunition without a licence.
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NAM_2020-06_Prophet has rhino case deferred_New Era.pdf | 502.29 KB |
The report, which is jointly compiled by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism's intelligence and investigations unit and the protected resources division of the Namibian Police, detailed that the seven cases saw the arrest of 16 suspects. All those apprehended are Namibian nationals. Of those arrested, 11 were in connection with rhino poaching or trafficking, two in connection with elephant poaching or trafficking, two for the hunting of giraffe, and one for contravening the Arms and Ammunition Act. Among the wildlife products seized were six rhino…
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NAM_2020-06_16 Namibians nabbed for Wildlife crime_The Namibian.pdf | 636.08 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 |
Fishermen on a fishing expedition stumbled upon a bag containing four elephant tusks hidden in shallow waters between Ondangwa and Ongwediva over the long Africa Day weekend. A group of village boys between Opoto and Shipepe locations near Ongwediva were fishing in the water channel near the road when they made the elephant tusks discovery.
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NAM_2020-05_Fishing expedition stumbles on elephant tusks_NewEra.pdf | 295.92 KB |
The ministry of environment has started an investigation after an elephant was found dead on a farm in the Kavango East region. According to ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda, the elephant was found dead in a crop field with its tusks intact at farm Nanava within the Linena constituency over the weekend. The elephant was reportedly found with a bullet wound above the right eye. The farm is approximately 90km southeast of Rundu. He said a follow up was done on Saturday by the ministry staff, the protected resources unit and the police special field force.
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NAM_2020-05_Elephant found dead in Kavango East_New Era Live.pdf | 842.1 KB |
Law enforcement agencies last week seized 119 wildlife animal products from two suspects arrested in connection with wildlife crime. Two Angolan nationals were arrested at Rundu on Thursday last week and six elephant tusks, one kudu skin and 112 porcupine quills were seized from them.
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NAM_2020-05_Police seize wildlife products_The Namibian.pdf | 394.35 KB |
Arrests for wildlife crime involving high-value species like elephants, rhinos and pangolins, increased by 36% in 2019 compared to the year before.
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NAM_2020-04_Wildlife crime arrests up in 2019_The Namibian.pdf | 987.27 KB |
The ministry of environment says its anti-poaching activities will not be hindered by the rapidly spreading coronavirus, which has forced many countries, Namibia included, into a lockdown.
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NAM_2020-03_Anti poaching activities not affected by lockdown_The Namibian.pdf | 599.34 KB |
The Namibia Police Force arrested and charged 16 suspects on charges of rhino or elephant poaching and conspiracy of elephant poaching last week. Police also confiscated five firearms, rounds of ammunitions and a motor vehicle. Among other items which were recovered during the anti-poaching operation are; varied wild life products such as four elephant tusks, a pangolin skin , two duiker carcasses, one waterbuck carcass and one warthog carcass.
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NAM_2020-03_Sixteen arrested for poaching_New Era.pdf | 193.82 KB |
Kelsey Prediger walks into the bush in the darkness of early evening. She is armed with only a small torch, telemetry equipment, a mobile phone and a belt pouch with small research tools. Although the grass is hip high in places, Kelsey appears unfazed by the possibility of encountering a snake, a leopard or another potentially dangerous creature.
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NAM_2020-03_Namibia Pangolins_What do we Actually Know_The Namibian.pdf | 449.47 KB |
In its efforts to boost the much-needed security at the conservancy, N≠a Jaqna conservancy management committee member Lara Diez said they have added 12 new guards to help curb poaching that of late has seen a rapid increase at the park. "Poaching has become an ever-increasing problem and the new game guards will increase vigilance and monitoring in the conservancy. The delicate balance between wildlife management, licensed hunting and the community is disturbed greatly by poaching,” Diez said in a statement yesterday.
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NAM_2020-03_Conservancy reinforces security to curb poaching_New Era.pdf | 338.73 KB |
On the flip side, among other features is the black rhino which faces extinction. Namibia is one of the vestiges of the black rhino, one of the world's most endangered animal species.
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NAM_2020-03_Namibia launches new N30 note_The Namibian.pdf | 853.38 KB |
The term 'poacher' is often used for anyone involved in wildlife crime. In reality, wildlife crime functions through a complex web of criminals, where the poachers – the people carrying out the illegal killing of an animal to initiate the trade in its parts – are at the lowest level.
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NAM_03_2020_Rhino poaching and the inside job_The Namibian.pdf | 570.97 KB |
Three men accused of dealing in or possessing two elephant tusks at Walvis Bay last year denied guilt on the charges they are facing during an appearance in the Walvis Bay Magistrate's Court on Thursday.
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NAM_2020-03_Alleged ivory dealers deny guilt on charges_The Namibian.pdf | 346.14 KB |
Given Namibia's poaching crisis, an education and awareness advocacy campaign is critical in order to develop strengthened community ownership and responsibility over wildlife.
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NAM_2020-03_Painting Murals For Conservation Advocacy_The Namibian.pdf | 355.56 KB |
Police reservists at Karibib intercepted a group of poachers, who had killed two oryx at Farm Albrechtshohe, but were only able to apprehend one of the four suspects.
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NAM_2020-03_K9 unit thwarts suspected oryx poachers_The Namibian.pdf | 406.08 KB |
A senior police ocer at Oshakati’s protected resources unit was the mastermind behind the poaching incidences which occurred in Etosha National Park last month.
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NAM_2020-02_Senior cop arrested over rhino poaching_New Era Live.pdf | 985.01 KB |
China yesterday declared an immediate and “comprehensive” ban on the trade and consumption of wild animals, a practice believed to be responsible for the deadly coronavirus outbreak.
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NAM_2020-02_China bans illegal wildlife trade_The Namibian.pdf | 484.73 KB |
LAW enforcement agents last week cracked down on six individuals who were found in possession of pangolin skin.
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NAM_2020-02 Six arrested for pangolin skin possession_The Namibian.pdf | 265.56 KB |
Between 1 January and 31 December 2019, 155 suspects were arrested for being found in possession of pangolins or their parts, attempting to trade these, or aiding and abetting those charged with possession or trafficking. During the same year, law enforcement officers in Namibia confiscated 121 pangolins. About 60% of the pangolins were dead. Most of the animals seized alive could be rehabilitated and released back into the wild.
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NAM_2020-02_The plight of the Namibian pangolin_The Namibian.pdf | 574.51 KB |
Two French tourists who were arrested in Tsumkwe for the possession of pieces of elephant tusk about two weeks ago were on Thursday found guilty in the Grootfontein Magistrate's Court.
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NAM_2019-11_French tourists found guilty of possession of elephant tusks_The Namibian.pdf | 482.98 KB |
The Namibian Police last week seized an array of wildlife products comprising elephant tusks, kudu horns and hides, civet skin and warthog carcasses, amongst others.
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NAM_2019-10_Police seize tusks animal hide_The Namibian.pdf | 340.7 KB |
Two men were arrested for being found in possession of 100 pieces of ivory, a summary of wildlife crime statistics from 30 September to 6 October details.
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NAM_2019-10_Two arraigned over 100 ivory pieces_The Namibian.pdf | 433.74 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 |
A 40-year-old suspected rhino poacher exchanged gunfire with a team of 15 Namibian Police officers and members of the Namibian Defence Force for nearly two hours on a farm outside Otavi on Sunday.
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NAM_2019-09_Police_suspected poacher exchange gunfire_The Namibian.pdf | 384.13 KB |
Two men appeared in the Walvis Bay Magistrate's Court on a charge of dealing in elephants tusks on Monday.
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NAM_2019-09_Two men nabbed over elephant tusks_The Namibian.pdf | 333.62 KB |
A 31-Year-old Zambian man was arrested yesterday arrested at Mukuyu village after he was found in possession of one elephant tusk and a rhino horn.
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NAM_2019-08_Man nabbed for possession of elephant tusk_rhino horn - The Namibian.pdf | 593.11 KB |
Meanwhile, the police have arrested 19 suspects in connection with wildlife crimes, and seized eight wildlife products since the start of August. According to a wildlife crime statistics report for this month issued by the Protected Resources Division of the Namibian Police yesterday, the wildlife products seized include four oryx carcasses, two live pangolins, a pangolin skin and a duiker.
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NAM_2019-08_Police arrest 118 for drug possession_The Namibian.pdf | 246.7 KB |
Goods, among them rhino horns with a combined value of N$100 million, were stolen from a house in Outjo while the owner was away over the weekend.
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NAM_2019-08_Rhino horns and goods worth N$100 million looted_New Era Live.pdf | 333.96 KB |
The Namibian Police Force (NamPol)'s Anti-Poaching Unit has since June this year arrested 48 people for alleged rhinoceros poaching crimes. Furthermore, about 22 of those arrested have appeared in the Okahao Magistrate's Court in Omusati Region during the month of July this year, while an unspecified small number of suspects were released, pending further police investigations into their cases.
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NAM_2015-08_48 rhino poaching suspects arrested since June_The Namibian.pdf | 327.41 KB |
Ten suspects between the ages of 16 and 33 years were on Friday arrested at Kalkfeld settlement in the Otjiwarongo constituency on charges of illegal hunting and possession of game meat without a valid permit.
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NAM_2019-08_Group arrested for illegal hunting at Kalkfeld_The Namibian.pdf | 1.22 MB |
An instructor at Valombola Vocational Training Center in Ongwediva and a member of the Namibian Defence Force attached to the Otavi military base, were on Sunday arrested by the Oshikoto police for illegal hunting.
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2019-07_NDF member nabbed for illegal hunting_New Era Live.pdf | 1.78 MB |
Two men were arrested at Katima Mulilo in the Zambezi region on Wednesday after they were found in possession of four elephant tusks.
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NAM_2019-07_Two suspected poachers arrested in Zambezi region again_The Namibian.pdf | 276.64 KB |
Two suspected poachers were arrested on Monday night after they were found in possession of a crocodile skin in Kongola area of the Zambezi region.
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NAM_2019-07_Suspected poachers arrested in Zambezi region_The Namibian.pdf | 354.33 KB |
An illegal immigrant from Angola was part of a gang of three men arrested last week for poaching in the Otjimbingwe district in the Erongo region. An incident report by Erongo crime investigations coordinator Erastus Iikuyu indicated that Benicio Tavalu (40), an Angolan who only had an Angolan voter's card in his possession, was arrested with Namibians Simson Katambo (42) and Titus Kamati (26) last Thursday.
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NAM_2019-05_Illegal immigrant caught poaching in Erongo_The Namibian.pdf | 417.71 KB |
Government is tightening the noose on wildlife crime syndicates as the country's flora and fauna increasingly become endangered.
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NAM_2019-05_Justice ministry to prioritise wildlife crime_The Namibian.pdf | 314.62 KB |
To raise awareness for rhino conservation, Namibian-born international model Behati Prinsloo has joined forces with Save The Rhino Trust Namibia (SRT). As part of her alliance with the organisation, she is launching a global campaign and is visiting Namibia this month, entrenching herself in the movement to protect the critically endangered black rhino species and preserve the population.
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NAM_2019-05_Behati Prinsloo joins forces with Save the Rhino Trust Namibia_The Namibian.pdf | 315.68 KB |
A man was denied bail on a charge of possession of six elephant tusks yesterday in the Katima Mulilo Magistrate's Court.
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NAM_2019-05_Man denied bail for possession of six elephant tusks_The Namibian.pdf | 478.2 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 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 |