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.
Policw in Harare on Sunday arrested a self-styled prophet for possessing a three-metre long python skin.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
ZIM_2023_09_Self_styled prophet arrested for python skin_The Sunday Mail.pdf | 130.32 KB |
A total of 62 active wire snares have been retrieved in Okaukuejo, an area around the Etosha National Park, in three days. According to the spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT), Romeo Muyunda, the illegal hunting and killing of wild animals using wire snares is increasing in Etosha National Park, causing concern for the Ministry. Muyunda said the practice of using wire snares for hunting is unsanctioned, illegal and punishable by law.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_202_08_Use of wire snares for illegal hunting on the rise_Eagle FM.pdf | 157 KB |
Only 36 people have been arrested for rhino-related poaching cases this year, compared to 80 last year. This was revealed by environment minister Pohamba Shifeta as the ministry received a donation of 10 vehicles, park management and law enforcement equipment worth approximately N$ 21.7 million funded by the Integrated National Park Management II (NamParks V and Covid-19 Fund) and Integrated Wildlife Protection (IWPP) projects. In contrast, 55 rhinos have been poached this year, compared to 44 in 2021. Two elephants have been poached so far this year compared to eight in 2021.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2022_10_Only 36 arrests for rhino poaching this year compared to 80 in 2021_Eagle FM.pdf | 393.97 KB |
The police in the Zambezi region have urged public assistance to trace a suspected poacher for arrest. The suspect allegedly fatally shot the elephant bull on Monday, 15 August, and the community members of Batubaja Village made the discovery. It was further reported that the elephant was shot and died in Batubaja area. The incident is believed to have occurred at around 15h00 in the afternoon. No suspect has been arrested so far, and the investigation is at an advanced stage.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2022_08_Suspected poaching leaves Zambezi elephant dead_Eagle FM.pdf | 407.05 KB |
Two men have been arrested in Bulawayo after they were found in possession of 20,5 kilogrammes of elephant tusks.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
ZIM_2022_07_Zimbabwean_foreigner nabbed over elephant tusks_The Sunday Mail.pdf | 223.64 KB |
Police arrested two men in Chiredzi for poaching impalas and recovered three carcasses during investigations. In a statement, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) said it had also recovered poaching paraphernalia such as knives and a hunting torch. On June 28, police in Chiredzi arrested Passmore Mashava (26) and Shepherd Madzore (30) in connection with poaching of three impalas.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
ZIM_2022_06_Duo arrested for poaching impalas_The Sunday Mail.pdf | 143.06 KB |
Environment and Tourism Minister Pohamba Shifeta today revealed that a 40-year-old Botswana male, a suspected poacher, is receiving medical treatment at Rundu State hospital after being shot by Bwabwata national park staff and wildlife protection services last week Tuesday. Shifeta said at a press conference today that Park staff on regular patrol laid an ambush after discovering a giraffe’s fresh carcass in a snare wire and hanging biltong
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2022_06_Botswana national nabbed for suspected poaching in Bwabwata_Eagle FM.pdf | 236.59 KB |
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has arrested three men from Chipinge for suspected unlawful possession of two live pangolins.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
ZIM_2022_04_Trio nabbed for pangolins_The Sunday Mail.pdf | 473.86 KB |
Police have launched a manhunt for a suspected poacher after a rhino carcass was discovered with a bullet in its forehead in Matobo, Matabeleland South province, on Monday. In a statement on Wednesday, police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said investigations are underway. "The ZRP is investigating a case of poaching of protected animals, where a Black Rhino carcass with horns missing was found at Makotama Resettlements, Matobo, on February 7, 2022".
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
ZIM_2022_02_New_Manhunt for rhino poacher_The Sunday Mail.pdf | 254.6 KB |
Three men who were allegedly found in possession of a pangolin worth US$5 000 appeared before a Harare magistrate on Friday facing charges of contravening the Parks and Wildlife Act (Chapter 20:14). Munashe Maposa (23), Oswell Chingwara (21) and Vincent Sigauke (23) of Chipinge were denied bail and remanded to February 18 for bail application. Prosecutor Ms Ruvimbo Matyatya said on February 3, at around 6am, detectives from the CID Minerals Flaura and Fauna Unit received information that a male adult was selling a live pangolin along George Silundika Street in Harare.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
ZIM_2022_02_Three in court for pangolin possession_The Sunday Mail.pdf | 146.45 KB |
One of the seven Chinese nationals who slipped out of the country while on bail after being arraigned on charges of money laundering and possession of more than 20 kilogrammes of rhino horns has been arrested by the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) in the United Arab Emirates after spending over two years on the run.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
ZIM_2021_12_Chinese fugitive arrested in UAE_The Sunday Mail.pdf | 358.72 KB |
In the past three years, gun battles between rhino poachers and the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority (ZimParks) rangers have killed about 20 people. Wildlife economists say a country like Zimbabwe, which has a large rhino population, needs to continue to remain alert as the endangered species to be under threat from poachers. According to America-based wildlife organisation, World Animal Foundation, the rhino horn is estimated at US$65 000 per kg, which is more than the value of gold or diamonds.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
ZIM_2021_11_All hands on deck against rhino poaching_The Sunday Mail.pdf | 1.18 MB |
Four (4) suspects were arrested on 21 August 2020 after they illegally hunted a specially protected game (rhino). The suspects conspired and entered a private Farm to hunt rhinos, they shot and injured a female white Rhino and killed one male White Rhino. The horns were removed. The cow managed to escape with a gunshot wound. It survived.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2020-08_4 arrested for rhino poaching_Eagle FM.pdf | 313.17 KB |
In South Africa, the COVID-19 pandemic and strict government-imposed lockdown have led to an unexpected consequence: a major decline in rhino poaching. More than 80% of African rhinos remaining in the world are in South Africa, making it the hotspot for rhino poaching. The number of rhinos killed for their horns has been slowly declining over recent years, but the pandemic and lockdown have quelled rhino poaching even more.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
SA_2020-07_Rhino poaching in South Africa declines during coronavirus lockdown_Pri_Org.pdf | 479.45 KB |
Serious crimes are being committed in Namibia - crimes against our precious wildlife, our natural heritage and, ultimately, our people. The criminal syndicates behind poaching are highly organised, professional and very clever. They are growing rich by stealing Namibia’s natural heritage, using poor Namibians to do their dirty work for them in return for less than 10% of the product’s market value. Those poaching on the ground thus bear all the risks associated with illegal activities, yet see precious little of the profit.
According to the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), 322 elephants were killed by poachers between 2016 and 2019, largely for their tusks. These are then shipped out to Asia, via South Africa, but the real number may be much higher, according to wildlife groups. Much of the poaching occurs in northern Zimbabwe in game reserves straddling the border with Zambia, according to ZimParks, a statutory body responsible for managing the country’s wildlife population.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
ZIM_2020-04_Elephant poaching and illicit financial flows_The Sunday Mail.pdf | 312.38 KB |