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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 301 - 350 of 521
Wednesday, 4 March 2020
Smit E 2020. Six arrested for wildlife crimes.

Six suspects were arrested in connection with wildlife crimes recently and three new cases were opened. This is according to statistics provided by the intelligence and investigation unit within the environment ministry and the protected resources unit in the safety and security ministry.

Thursday, 27 February 2020
Steynberg F 2020. Drie stroop glo renoster in Etosha:  'Ietermagôsmokkelaars' kry borg.

Vanaf 17 tot 23 Februarie is beslag op twee renosterhorings gelê. Drie vermeende renosterstropers in die Etosha Nasionale Park, mnre. Festus Simon, Johannes Valombola en Efraim Malakia, is op 18 Februarie by Okahao in hegtenis geneem. Volgens die polisie is twee renosterhorings, twee .303-jaggewere, 30 patrone en 'n voertuig gekonfiskeer. 

Thursday, 27 February 2020
Smit E 2020. 13 arrested for wildlife crime.

Thirteen suspects were arrested recently in connection with wildlife crimes, while five new cases were opened.  According to statistics released by the intelligence and investigation unit within the environment ministry and the protected resources division in the safety and security ministry, a total of three illegal wildlife products were also seized. 

Tuesday, 25 February 2020
2020. Nege vas oor renosterhorings.

Nege verdagtes is verlede week in verband met renosterstropery of -horingsmokkelary in hegtenis geneem. Volgens die wildmisdaadverslag van 17 tot 23 Februarie is beslag op twee renosterhorings gelê. Een likkewaan, 58 ammunisie, vyf vuurwapens en een voertuig is ook gekonfiskeer.

Nine suspects were arrested in connection with rhino poaching or horn smuggling last week. According to the wildlife crime report of 17 to 23 February, two rhino horns were seized. 

Thursday, 20 February 2020
2020. Six suspected smugglers get bail.

The alleged rhino poachers mr. Mapole Tjipopyeni, Thomas Eino, Hofni Mengeri and Petena Karure appeared in court last Monday at Omaruru for the start of their trial.

Thursday, 20 February 2020
2020. Ses vermeende smokkelaars kry borg.

Ses vermeende renosterhoringsmokkelaars is verlede week in Namibiese howe op borgtog van N$20 000 elk vrygelaat.

Six suspected rhino horn smugglers were released in Namibian courts last week on bail of N $ 20,000 each.

Thursday, 6 February 2020
Smit E 2020. Poaching declines, arrests increase (Namibia).

Over the past ve years, there has been an overall decline in rhino and elephant poaching, with a major increase in arrests. This was shared yesterday by environment minister Pohamba Shifeta during his 2020 opening speech. Last year, a total of 45 rhinos were poached in comparison to 74 in 2018 and 55 in 2017. In 2016, 61 rhinos were poached, and 97 in 2015. According to Shifeta, two rhinos have been poached to date this year. As for elephants, 12 were poached last year, 27 in 2018 and 50 in 2017. In 2016, a total of 101 elephants were poached and 49 in 2015.

Wednesday, 8 January 2020
Smith J-M 2018. Suburban women tackle robbers.

An 80-year-old Chinese man who has lived in Namibia for more than 17 years was granted N$180 000 bail in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court last week, after he was arrested for being in illegal possession of one rhino horn and 60 pieces of raw elephant tusks, a leopard head skin and one cheetah hide.

Wednesday, 20 November 2019
Steynberg F 2019. Vier oor ivoor gevonnis: NDF-soldate vas oor horing.

Die Namibiërs Joseph Jacob en Bernhard Ndjamba Shipingana is verlede Maandag (18 Nov) op Rundu tot vier jaar tronkstraf of ’n boete van N$25 000 elk gevonnis. Hulle het twee olifanttande gesmokkel en beslag is gelê op die voertuig wat hulle tydens die misdaad gebruik het.

Friday, 1 November 2019
Smit E 2019. Repeat offenders arrested for wildlife crimes.

Several suspects, some of whom are repeat offenders, were arrested for wildlife crimes last week and five new cases were registered. According to statistics provided by police and the environment ministry, four wildlife products were also seized last week - one giraffe tail, a live pangolin, an eland carcass and one live tortoise. Of the nine suspects arrested, one is a Zambian national and the rest are Namibians. Two Namibians, Makushe Frans Limbare and Muronga Timoteus, were arrested last Tuesday at Ndiyona for the illegal hunting of an eland. 

Tuesday, 22 October 2019
Smit E 2019. 16 arrested for wildlife crimes: Protected wildlife species continue to be illegally hunted in northern Namibia.

Sixteen suspects were arrested in connection with wildlife crimes in the past week. Eight of the suspects are Namibians and the rest Zambians. Statistics provided by the Protected Resource Division of the Namibian police and the Intelligence and Investigation Unit of the environment ministry indicate that a total of 21 wildlife products were seized last week.

Thursday, 10 October 2019
Smit E 2019. 100 pieces of ivory confiscated: Wildlife crime is not showing any signs of abating.

One-hundred pieces of elephant tusk were seized and two suspects were arrested in Katutura during an operation by the Blue Rhino Task Team last week.

Thursday, 10 October 2019
Smit E 2019. Organised crime low in Namibia.

Namibia is among the countries with the lowest level of organised crime in Africa. This is according to a report by the Enact project, financed by the European Union (EU).

Friday, 4 October 2019
2019. Poaching syndicate fights for bail.

While two suspects in a multimillion-dollar rhino-horn theft case were released on bail this week, an alleged poaching kingpin was denied permission to appeal against the refusal of his bail application. Petrus Shihepo Shimuningeni has been fingered as the mastermind behind a poaching syndicate which targeted a private game farm near Etosha National Park in the Kunene Region, where at least 13 rhinos have been poached this year.

Sunday, 29 September 2019
2019. Man vas oor lewende ietermagô.

'n Man is Donderdag by 'n vulstasie op Okahandja glo met 'n lewende ietermagô in sy besit in hegtenis geneem.

Monday, 23 September 2019
Louw L 2019. Vermeende ivoorsmokkelaars kry borg - Streng voorwaardes geld.

Die drie vermeende ivoorsmokkelaars, mnre. Dirk Vermeulen, Edgar Clark en Michael Lusse, is Vrydag in die Walvisbaaise landdroshof op borgtog van N$30 000 elk vrygelaat.

Monday, 23 September 2019
Steynberg F 2019. Geen borg vir vermeende horingdiewe.

Die eienaar van ’n wildsplaas op Outjo, waar 34 renosterhorings in Augustus uit ’n instapkluis gesteel is, is verheug twee verdagtes is in hegtenis geneem.

Monday, 23 September 2019
Louw L 2019. Vermeende ivoorsmokkelaars kry borg.

Die drie vermeende ivoorsmokkelaars, mnre. Dirk Vermeulen, Edgar Clark en Michael Lusse, is Vrydag in die Walvisbaaise landdroshof op borgtog van N$30 000 elk vrygelaat. Tydens hul borgtogaansoek Donderdag en Vrydag het al drie beskuldigdes getuig hulle was nooit bewus van die olifanttande se oorsprong nie.

Wednesday, 18 September 2019
Steynberg F 2019. Teenstropery: 280 polisielede veg saam - Twee karkasse van renosters op plaas ontdek.

Altesaam 280 polisielede van oraloor die land word in teenstropingseenhede op 'n driemaandelikse roteringsbasis in die Palmwagkonsessie en die Etosha en Bwabwata Nasionale Parke ontplooi. Só het die polisiehoof, lt.genl. Sebastian Ndeitunga, verlede week by 'n slypskool vir wildmisdaadwetgewing aan ondersoekbeamptes en aanklaers in die hoofstad gesê.

Tuesday, 17 September 2019
2019. 13 vermeende wildmisdadigers vas.

Altesaam 13 verdagtes is verlede week vanaf 9 tot 15 September in verband met wildmisdaad in hegtenis geneem. Vyf uit die 13 verdagtes is vas oor renosterstropery of die handel in horings, en een oor olifantstropery of handel in ivoor. Volgens die weeklikse statistieke van wildmisdaad van die Namibiese polisie se eenheid vir beskermde hulpbronne (PRU) en die ministerie van die omgewing en toerisme se intelligensie- en ondersoekeenheid, is sewe nuwe sake verlede week aanhangig gemaak. Beslagleggings is op twee elk renosterhorings, olifanttande, lewende ietermagôs,…

Tuesday, 10 September 2019
2019. Vermeende skietmal renoserstroper verskyn in Otavi-hof.

Die vermeende renosterstroper wat Sondag glo op polisie- en weermaglede op 'n plaas buite Otavi losgebrand het, het vanoggend in dié dorp se landdroshof verskyn.

Tuesday, 10 September 2019
2019. Vermeende skietmal renoserstroper verskyn in Otavi-hof.

Die vermeende renosterstroper wat Sondag glo op polisie- en weermaglede op 'n plaas buite Otavi losgebrand het, het vanoggend in dié dorp se landdroshof verskyn. Mnr. Joseph Ngoma (42) het op klagte van die onwettige jag van beskermde wild, asook die besit van 'n renosterhoring en 'n ongelisensieerde vuurwapen en ammunisie verskyn. 'n Klag van poging tot moord is bygevoeg omdat hy Sondag glo op 15 polisie- en weermaglede geskiet het toe hulle hom in hegtenis wou neem.

Monday, 9 September 2019
2019. Vier vas oor olifantprodukte.

Die Namibiese polisie het verlede week drie olifanttande, twee -velle en een stuk ivoor gekonfiskeer. 
Vier verdagtes is in verband met olifantstropery en -ivoorsmokkelary in hegtenis geneem, lui statistieke van wildmisdaad van 2 tot 8 September wat deur die polisie se eenheid vir bekermde hulpbronne (PRU) en die ministerie van die omgewing en toerisme se intelligensieen ondersoekeenheid verskaf is.

Thursday, 5 September 2019
Louw L 2019. Vermeende ivoorskelms op heterdaad betrap.

Geheime polisie het twee mans Saterdag op heterdaad betrap toe hulle glo twee olifanttande van die hand probeer sit het. Geen borgtog is Maandag aan mnre. Dirk Vermeulen (51) and Edgar Clark (41) toegestaan ná hulle die tande na bewering aan polisiebeamptes probeer verkwansel het nie.

Thursday, 15 August 2019
2019. Renoster in Etosha gestamp.

'n Renoster is laat gister teen skemertyd in die Etosha Nasionale Park deur 'n voertuig gestamp.
Die hoofwoordvoerder van die Namibiese polisie, adj.komm. Edwin Kanguatjivi, het die voorval bevestig en gesê die renoster moes deur 'n veearts uitgesit word. Hy het gesê die voorval het in die noordelike deel van die park plaasgevind en die voertuig is deur 'n beampte van die ministerie van die omgewing en toerisme bestuur. "Die polisie is besig om die saak te ondersoek of die bestuurder nalatig bestuur het of nie," het Kanguatjivi gesê.

Thursday, 15 August 2019
2019. Zambiër vas met renosterhoring, ivoor.

'n Zambiese man is gister in Malengalenga in die Zambezistreer met een renosterhoring en een olifanttand deur die Nambiese polisie in hegtenis geneem.

Wednesday, 14 August 2019
Smit E 2019. Cites concerned about poaching: Inconsistencies in exporting of Namibian rhino trophies.

A report that will be up for discussion at this week's World Wildlife Conference highlights inconsistencies in the exporting of rhino trophies from Namibia and says that 295 rhinos have been poached in Namibia between 2009 and 2018. It says the 44 rhinos that were poached in 2017 represented 1.5% of Namibia's rhino population. The 183 Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) will adopt decisions and resolutions to expand and further strengthen the global wildlife trade regime at to be considered at the 18th…

Wednesday, 14 August 2019
Steynberg F 2019. 19 vas oor wildmisdaad.

Volgens statistieke wat deur die polisie-eenheid vir beskermde hulpbronne en die ministerie van die omgewing en toerisme se eenheid vir intelligensie en ondersoeke vir wildmisdaad in Augustus saamgestel is, is twee verdagtes in verband met renosterstropery of -horingsmokkelary of pogings daartoe in hegtenis geneem. 

Wednesday, 14 August 2019
Steynberg F 2019. 34 renosterhorings uit boer se kluis gesteel.

'n Boer (58) van 'n wildsplaas in die Outjo-distrik is die naweek van 34 renosterhorings, kontant in Amerikaanse en Nambiiese dollars, euros, rand, twee trouringe en drie vuurwapens ter waarde van sowat N$100 miljoen beroof.

Tuesday, 13 August 2019
Smit E 2019. 19 arrested for wildlife crime.

A total of 19 suspects were arrested for wildlife crimes during August with six new cases that were registered this month. This is according to wildlife crime statistics compiled by the Intelligence and Investigation Unit in the environment ministry and the Protected Resources Division in the Namibian Police. Statistics show that out of the 19 suspects arrested, two suspects were arrested for rhino poaching and or trafficking crimes (including cases of conspiracy of rhino poaching).

Tuesday, 13 August 2019
Smit E 2019. 19 arrested for wildlife crime.

A total of 19 suspects were arrested for wildlife crimes during August with six new cases that were registered this month. This is according to wildlife crime statistics compiled by the Intelligence and Investigation Unit in the environment ministry and the Protected Resources Division in the Namibian Police. Statistics show that out of the 19 suspects arrested, two suspects were arrested for rhino poaching and or trafficking crimes (including cases of conspiracy of rhino poaching). Furthermore wildlife products that were seized included two live pangolin, one…

Sunday, 21 July 2019
2019. Making a killing: There is frantic logging activity in the northeastern regions as the deadline approaches for the suspension of timber transport and export permits.

A Namibian Sun investigation in Kavango, where it is alleged Chinese national Hou 'Josy' Xuecheng and others are continuing with logging, has revealed frenetic activity before transport and export permits expire this Sunday. Hou has, however, again denied that he is continuing to harvest trees in the Kavango East Region. Sources close to his operation have made the claim that his company, New Force Logistics CC, is still harvesting trees for export via the Walvis Bay harbour.

Monday, 29 April 2019
2019. Bail application deadlocked.

The bail application hearing of a man accused of being involved in the killing of a black rhino on a game reserve near Otjiwarongo last month, ended in a deadlock in court on Friday. The 30-year-old Eeno Anguwo was arrested at Omuthiya on 15 April after he was connected to a syndicate of poachers who allegedly shot and killed the rhino bull valued at N$800 000.

Tuesday, 16 April 2019
Smit E 2019. Appeal backfires: Chinese smugglers get longer sentence.

Four Chinese men, who were originally handed 14-year sentences for wildlife crimes, including rhino horn  smuggling, had the shock of their lives when their appeal ended with the High Court also convicting and sentencing them for money laundering.

Friday, 12 April 2019
2019. Businessman denied bail in rhino poaching case.

The bail application of businessman Petrus Shihepo Shimuningeni who was arrested in February this year for alleged rhino poaching, was turned down in the Outjo Magistrate's Court on Wednesday. Shimuningeni and his four co-accused, aged 25, 26, 27 and 32, appeared before Magistrate Peingondjabi Shipo who denied bail because it is not in the public interest or the interest of the administration of justice for bail to be granted.

Monday, 8 April 2019
2019. Rhino poacher crushed by elephant, devoured by lions in SA.

A suspected rhino poacher was trampled to death by an elephant and his body devoured by lions in South Africa's Kruger National Park, officials said Monday. South African rangers have recovered the skull of the man in the vast Kruger sanctuary, which has born the brunt of much of the country's poaching  crisis. According to a park spokesman, rangers were alerted after the victim's alleged accomplices told his family that he had been crushed to death by an elephant.

Tuesday, 19 February 2019
Smit E 2019. Trans-boundary wildlife crime training: KAZA court officials in workshop.

Countries that make up the Kavango-Zambezi Trans-frontier Conservation Area (KAZA-TFCA) need to provide for specialist prosecutors that have knowledge about all wildlife crime-related legislation and the appropriate prosecution of offenders. This was the view of deputy environment minister Bernadette Jagger at the KAZA-TFCA Regional Judiciary and Prosecutors Workshop that is taking place in Windhoek. 

Tuesday, 12 February 2019
Smith Y 2019. No bail for repeat offenders: Environment minister Pohamba Shifeta has pleaded with courts to deny bail to repeat offenders.

Environment minister Pohamba Shifeta says some of the 120 suspects arrested last year for wildlife crimes were repeat offenders who were out on bail for similar crimes. “It is discouraging when a suspect is arrested for a crime today and the next day commits the same crime again. We do not want to tell justice what to do, but a repeat offender should not be let out on bail,” Shifeta said yesterday.

Wednesday, 30 January 2019
Smit E 2019. Oncologist granted N$50 000 bail.

A Windhoek oncologist has been granted N$50 000 bail by the Windhoek Magistrate's Court after he was arrested at the weekend for the illegal possession of three elephant tusks.

Saturday, 15 December 2018
Smit E 2018. No bail for accused rhino horn smuggler.

The Chinese national who was arrested last month at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg after being caught with 18 rhino horns in his luggage has been denied bail. Ye Zhiwei, 28, appeared in the Kempton Park Magistrate''s Court in South Africa on Tuesday on a charge of dealing in rhino horn under the Endangered Spices Act. South African Hawks spokesperson Captain Ndivhuwo Mulamu confirmed to Namibian Sun that Ye was denied bail and that his case was postponed to 17 January for disclosure of evidence and for further investigation.

Tuesday, 4 December 2018
2018. Toolkit to fight wildlife crime.

A new project was launched last week that will assist Namibia in its efforts to fight wildlife crime. The International Consortium on Combatting Wildlife Crime (ICCWC) Wildlife and Forest Crime Analytic Toolkit was launched by environment minister Pohamba Shifeta last week at a workshop organised by the Anti-Corruption Commission. The project provides the technical resources to assist governments in conducting a comprehensive analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of a country's response to wildlife crime.

Monday, 3 December 2018
Smit E 2018. Poachers will 'kill every single rhino'.

If rhino owners are not allowed to harvest and legally sell horns, poachers will kill every last rhino in Namibia. This is according to environment minister Pohamba Shifeta, who was speaking last week at a meeting where the poaching situation in the country was discussed. Shifeta said the price of a rhino horn has skyrocketed and is currently about N$900 000 per kilogram. "It is going up every day." He said if rhino range countries could sell rhino horns, the price will go down because the demand would still be there.

Friday, 30 November 2018
Smit E 2018. Elite unit nails 73 poachers.

The Blue Rhino Taskforce has had phenomenal success in tracking down poaching syndicates in the four months of its existence.

Tuesday, 6 November 2018
Smith J-M 2018. Calls for legal horn trade.

The Namibia Chamber of Environment has made a call for the legalisation of trade in rhino horn. Calls to legalise rhino horn trade in Namibia are growing louder in an effort to save the species from annihilation, particularly after China partly lifted its already weakly implemented 25-year ban on the use of rhino horn and tiger bones in traditional medicines. In a letter to members and affiliates last week, Namibia Chamber of Environment (NCE) CEO Chris Brown warned that the demand for animal products such as rhino horn, ivory, pangolin scales, tiger and lion bones will…

Thursday, 1 November 2018
Smit E 2018. Smugglers may appeal against sentences.

The High Court has granted permission to four Chinese nationals to appeal against their 14-year prison sentences for trying to smuggle 14 rhino horns and a leopard skin out of Namibia. The permission was granted on Tuesday when Li Zhibing, 53, Li Xiaoliang, 30, Pu Xuexin, 49, and Wang Hui, 40, appeared before Deputy Judge President Hosea Angula. The four men were arrested between March and May 2014 in what has been termed Namibia’s largest rhino-horn-smuggling case. The men were each sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment by Windhoek Magistrate Alexis Diergaardt at…

Tuesday, 23 October 2018
Sasman C 2018. Alleged police brutality alarming - NamRights.

The human rights organisation says citizens are unsafe in police custody. Human rights organisation NamRights says it is becoming increasingly alarmed by widespread allegations of torture and other cruel treatment of ordinary citizens by the Namibian police and other law-enforcement agencies. The executive director of NamRights, Phil Ya Nangoloh, says the organisation has reasonable cause to believe that there is evidence that citizens in general are no longer safe in police custody.

Monday, 15 October 2018
Smith J-M 2018. Namibia calls for review on wildlife trade ban.

Namibia's environment minister Pohamba Shifeta has urged for a review on the blanket ban on the trade of wildlife products, including rhino horns and ivory, in order to better curb the poaching epidemic threatening the survival of high-value species. Speaking at the Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference in London last week, Shifeta told delegates Namibia believes that "banning any trade in products will not necessarily achieve the outcome of stopping the demand and illegal trade. This has not been successful with alcohol, drugs and indeed, rhino horn, pangolin scales and ivory…

Friday, 21 September 2018
Smit E 2018. 1 200 rhinos in private care: poaching remains a major threat.

While about 1 200 rhinos in Namibia are now in private care, the country is still experiencing high levels of poaching, with 29 rhinos poached this year already.

Tuesday, 18 September 2018
2018. Dogs on the trail of poachers: Man's best friend combats wildlife crime  .

The environment ministry's new anti-poaching dog unit has already recorded several successes, which includes apprehending a poacher in the Etosha National Park. This happened during the dogs' first operation, just 16 days after their handlers started training with them.

Monday, 17 September 2018
2018. LAC trains legal fraternity on wildlife crime.

The Legal Assistance Centre (LAC) last week held a training workshop on wildlife crime for 16 representatives of the legal fraternity, police officers and park wardens from the environment ministry.

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