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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 - 29 of 29
Friday, 3 November 2023
Soodyal N 2023. Man nabbed for selling elephant tusk in Durban.

In Durban, a team comprising the Hawks and KZN Economic Infrastructure Task Team caught a man selling an elephant tusk. The 62-year-old was arrested in Greenwood Park. Police say the horn, which weighed some four-and-a-half-kilos, is estimated to be worth R2 million

Friday, 6 October 2023
Walsh H 2023. Dogs quickly sniff out succulent thugs.

Global demand for collectible succulents has increased drastically over the past few years. This means that thousands of endangered plant species are illegally removed from their natural habitat by poachers and sold to meet the insatiable demand for them. The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) has now started a project to train three dogs and use their strong sense of smell to sniff out the succulent poachers.

Sunday, 10 September 2023
Muonwa J 2023. Pair busted selling elephant skin for US$1,500.

Two accused persons have appeared in court following their arrest by detectives for allegedly trying to unlawfully dispose off an elephant hide for US$1,500.

Tuesday, 14 March 2023
2023. Three nabbed for illegal possession of leopard skins.

Police has arrested three men for illegal possession of seven leopard skins in Victoria Falls.

Friday, 24 February 2023
Muonwa J 2023. Poacher in dock for shooting US$50K elephant.

A member of a poaching syndicate has appeared in court for allegedly gunning down a bull elephant valued at US$50 000.

Tuesday, 31 January 2023
2023. Wildlife poaching declines in Zimbabwe in 2022.

Zimbabwe recorded a decline in wildlife poaching last year as the nation’s anti-poaching activities continued to bear fruit, the spokesperson for the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority said Monday. A total of 36 key wildlife animals were poached in 2022, down from 42 in 2021, Tinashe Farawo said. Out of the 42 wild animals killed in 2021, 31 were elephants while rhinos totaled 11, including six white rhinos and five black ones, he said. Out of the 36 wild animals poached last year, 25 were elephants, seven rhinos and four lions, he said.

Sunday, 2 October 2022
2022. SA: Zimbabweans convicted of rhino poaching, illegal possession of arms.

South Africa: Six Zimbabwean nationals have been found guilty in the Makhanda High Court of conspiracy to commit rhino poaching and illegal possession of firearms. They’ll be back in court on the 4th of November for the start of sentencing proceedings. The court heard previously that information uncovered relating to the crimes of the accused dates back to before their arrest in 2018. It included the tracking of their cellphones which was later linked to rhino poaching incidents at Kragga Kamma and Shamwari Game Reserves.

Monday, 13 June 2022
Malinga G 2022. Five nabbed as Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife steps up fight against poaching.

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife says the improved and random deployment of field ranges, police officers and K9 units have made life difficult for poachers. Three suspected poachers were arrested last week before they could kill a rhino inside the Hluhluwe iMfolozi Park in northern KZN. This brings the number of alleged poachers caught inside the park this year to five.

Wednesday, 11 May 2022
Nyanhongo L 2022. 16-year-old boy arrested for poaching, caught with four impala, lion and Zebra meat.

A 16-year old Beitbridge boy has been arrested and is due to appear in court after he was caught in possession of snares and game meat. The boy was arrested together with one Freeman Moyo (38), and the two are being charged for contravening section 5 of Trapping of Animals Control Act.

Saturday, 7 May 2022
Katanda P 2022. Trio nabbed with 37 kilograms of ivory.

Three Harare men appeared in court charged with illegal possession of ivory after they were caught with 37kgs of elephant tasks.

Saturday, 26 March 2022
2022. SA: Zimbabwean jailed 10 years over pangolin.

Johannesburg: The Secunda regional court has sentenced a Zimbabwean national who was found in possession of a live pangolin to a 10-year jail term.

Monday, 28 February 2022
Muonwa J 2022. Poachers kill endangered white rhino.

A carcass of a white rhinoceros shot dead by poachers has been discovered in Bikita, Masvingo province, as wildlife poaching escalates in the country. The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) national spokesperson, assistant commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the discovery of the endangered animal's carcass made last Sunday.

Sunday, 26 September 2021
2021. Zim man jailed 2 years in Botswana for ivory possession.

A Zimbabwean man, who managed to get his lover off the hook after the pair was caught with two elephant tusks, has been jailed for two years in Botswana.

Saturday, 21 August 2021
Munhende L 2021. Zimbabwe - A major transit route for smuggling of critically endangered shell fish to China.

Investigations by the Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) have revealed Zimbabwe is now a major transit route for smuggling of valuable but critically endangered shell fish, abalone, to China and other countries.

Thursday, 15 July 2021
2021. Kwekwe python man arrested.

Polics in Kwekwe have confirmed the arrest of a 31-year-old man who allegedly stashed a two-metre long rock python in his vehicle.

Tuesday, 29 June 2021
2021. Zim man, lover arrested in Botswana for illegal ivory possession.

A Zimbabwean man, charged together with his girlfriend for unlawful possession of elephant tusks, has saved his co-accused from further legal woes after telling the court she knew nothing of the ivory.

Thursday, 22 April 2021
Muonwa J 2021. Court acquits villagers busted with US$1 400 Ivory.

A Karoi magistrate has cleared two Karoi villagers for charges of unlawful possession of raw ivory valued at US$1 467,10. Whynos Dzotso (23) and Knowledge Nyamukondiwa (25) who both reside under Chief Kazangarare, Karoi were this Tuesday acquitted by Magistrate Felix Chauromwe who made the ruling following the defence's application for discharge at the close of the state case.

Monday, 19 April 2021
2021. Dete man found with 7 ivory pieces.

A Dete man has been arrested after being found with seven elephant tusks. ZimParks rangers ambushed Delight Moyo of Dopota village after getting a tip-off by a ranger Phinos Mudenda that some people were in possession of ivory.

Wednesday, 10 March 2021
Muonwa J 2021. Elephant tusk lands Karoi villagers in trouble.

TWO Karoi villagers have been dragged to court for illegal possession of an elephant tusk valued at US$1 467,10.

Sunday, 24 January 2021
2021. Bulawayo man arrested after being caught with zebra skin.

Police in Bulawayo have arrested a 62-year-old man who was found in possession of a zebra skin and tail. Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube said Jabulani Sifelani, who is from the city's Nguboyenja high density suburb, was arrested in North End on Tuesday afternoon following a tip-off from members of the public.

Monday, 18 January 2021
2021. Three Bulawayo men arrested for ivory possession.

Police in Bulawayo last week arrested three men after they were found in possession of five pieces of ivory.

Wednesday, 18 November 2020
2020. Soldier arrested with two live pangolins.

Mutare: A local man together with a Zimbabwe National Army officer were arrested by police detectives from the Minerals Flora and Fauna unit after being found in possession of two live pangolins.

Sunday, 18 October 2020
2020. Elephants: 'My mission to stop poachers in Zimbabwe'.

"We've gone 12 months without an elephant being shot and killed by poachers at Mana Pools National Park, which is a huge result." For Nick Murray, a conservationist born in Pontypridd, this result has followed years of hard work. Nick now runs a conservation project with his wife Desiree covering the Lower Zambezi Valley of Zimbabwe, an area of 10,000 sq km (3,800 sq miles).

Friday, 14 August 2020
2020. Three in court after found in possession of US$11 395 ivory.

Three men suspected to be part of a poaching syndicate that has been illegally hunting elephants for their ivory at the Hwange National Park and Binga district both in Matabeleland North have been arrested after being found in possession of ivory worth US$11 395. Enos Mudenda (35) of Mankonkole village under Chief Saba in Binga, Joseph Ngwenya (32) of Siantele village in Chief Shana area in Hwange and Mark Sibanda (38) of Bulawayo’s Mahatshula suburb appeared before Hwange magistrate Sekai Chiwundura to answer to a charge of illegal possession of elephant ivory.

Thursday, 30 July 2020
Muonwa J 2020. Chinhoyi Trio arrested in a trap selling live pangolin.

Three local men, who allegedly tried to sell a live pangolin, appeared in court here Tuesday facing charges of illegal possession of an endangered species.

Wednesday, 27 May 2020
Ngcobo N 2020. KZN poaching drops since virus lockdown.

KZN Ezemvelo Wildlife says they have seen a decrease in poaching since the start of the national lockdown. But the conservation body says they remain on high alert as poachers continue to operate in the province. Last week, a suspect was arrested in Mtubatuba, North of KZN for the illegal possession and sale of elephant ivory in the KwaMsane Township.

Monday, 25 May 2020
Munhende L 2020. Spike in wildlife poaching as poachers take advantage of lockdown laxities.

Zimbabwe has realised a spike in wildlife poaching as the wildlife management authority has redirected efforts towards combating the spread of Covid-19 during the current lockdown period, a top lobby has said.

Wednesday, 14 August 2019
2019. Employee of electricity company among four arrested for possession of rhino horns.

A 33-year-old employee of an electricity company is one of four men arrested at Otjiwarongo on Monday with rhino horns that had been freshly sawed off.

Monday, 12 August 2019
2019. Ten in illegal hunting case at Kalkfeld appear in court .

The 10 people charged with illegal hunting and possession of game meat at Kalkfeld settlement, made their first court appearance on Monday in the Otjiwarongo Magistrate's Court.

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