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.
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.
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ZIM_2023_09_Pair busted selling elephant skin for USD1 500_New Zimbabwe.pdf | 294.55 KB |
Six Zimbabwean nationals, found guilty of rhino poaching, appeared at the Makhanda High Court on Wednesday, 14 June 2023, for their long-awaited sentencing. The six felons were first arrested in July 2018. Almost five years after their arrest, Francis Chitiyo, Trymore Chauke, Misheck Chauke, Simba Masinge, Nhamo Muyambo, and Abraham Moyane have been sentenced to between 16 to 20 years for conspiracy to kill rhinos so that they could steal their horns and for possession of an unlawful firearm and ammunition.
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SA_2023_06_Six rhino poachers sentenced to between 16 to 20 years_Grocotts Mail.pdf | 402.32 KB |
Police has arrested three men for illegal possession of seven leopard skins in Victoria Falls.
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ZIM_2023_03_Three nabbed for illegal possession of leopard skins_New Zimbabwe.pdf | 339.58 KB |
A member of a poaching syndicate has appeared in court for allegedly gunning down a bull elephant valued at US$50 000.
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ZIM_2023_02_Poacher in dock for shooting USdollar 50K elephant_NewsZimbabwe.pdf | 301.32 KB |
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.
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ZIM_2023_01_Wildlife poaching declines in Zimbabwe in 2022_NewZimbabwe.pdf | 346.44 KB |
After receiving a tip-off from a whistleblower, two men were arrested for illegal possession of a pangolin in Alberton on December 11.
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SA_2022_12_Two men arrested for illegal possession of pangolin_Southern Courier.pdf | 232.78 KB |
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.
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ZIM_2022_10_SA_ Zimbabweans convicted of rhino poaching illegal possession of arms_New Zimbabwe.pdf | 491.42 KB |
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.
Three Harare men appeared in court charged with illegal possession of ivory after they were caught with 37kgs of elephant tasks.
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ZIM_2022_05_Trio nabbed with 37 kilograms of ivory_NewZimbabwe.pdf | 547.26 KB |
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.
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SA_2022_03_SA_Zimbabwean Jailed 10 Years Over Pangolin_Newzimbabwe.pdf | 440.89 KB |
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.
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ZIM_2022_02_Poachers kill endangered white rhino_NewZimbabwe.pdf | 545.62 KB |
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.
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ZIM_2021_09_Zim Man Jailed 2 Years In Botswana For Ivory Possession_NewZimbabwe.pdf | 268.8 KB |
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.
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.
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ZIM_2021_07_Kwekwe Python Man Arrested_New Zimbabwe.pdf | 426.76 KB |
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.
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ZIM_2021_06_Zim Man_lover arrested in Botswana for illegal ivory possession_New Zimbabwe.pdf | 447.53 KB |
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.
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ZIM_2021_04_Court Acquits Villagers Busted With US1 400 Ivory_New Zimbabwe.pdf | 523.45 KB |
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.
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ZIM_2021_04_Dete Man Found With 7 Ivory Pieces_New Zimbabwe.pdf | 503.58 KB |
TWO Karoi villagers have been dragged to court for illegal possession of an elephant tusk valued at US$1 467,10.
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ZIM_2021-03_Elephant Tusk Lands Karoi Villagers In Trouble_New Zimbabwe.pdf | 477.93 KB |
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.
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ZIM_2021-01_Bulawayo Man Arrested After Being Caught With Zebra Skin_New Zimbabwe.pdf | 497.09 KB |
Police in Bulawayo last week arrested three men after they were found in possession of five pieces of ivory.
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ZIM_2021-01_Three Bulawayo Men Arrested For Ivory Possession_New Zimbabwe.pdf | 469.79 KB |
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.
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ZIM_2020-11_Soldier Arrested With Two Live Pangolins_New Zimbabwe.pdf | 474.93 KB |
"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).
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ZIM_2020-10_Elephants My mission to stop poachers in Zimbabwe_New Zimbabwe.pdf | 502.55 KB |
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.
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ZIM_2020-08_Three In Court After Found In Possession Of US11 395 Ivory_New Zimbabwe.pdf | 360.17 KB |
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.
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ZIM_2020-07_Chinhoyi Trio Arrested In A Trap Selling Live Pangolin_New Zimbabwe.pdf | 519.09 KB |
Poachers in Africa are encroaching on wildlife and killing rhinos in travel hotspots now devoid of visitors due to the coronavirus pandemic. Tourism revenue for some of Africa’s wildlife reserves and national parks has declined sharply as a result of the coronavirus crisis.
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.
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ZIM_2020-05_Spike In Wildlife Poaching As Poachers Take Advantage Of Lockdown Laxities_NewZimbabwe.pdf | 481.91 KB |
The trial of six men facing rhino-poaching charges continued in the Grahamstown High Court this week. East London residents Francis Chitiyo, Trymore Chauke, Misheck Chauke, Simba Masinge and Nhamo Muyambo, and Abraham Moyane were arrested in July 2018 during Operation Full Moon – the Eastern Cape Rhino Task Team’s code name for its anti-poaching operations. All six have since been in custody. They are accused on four counts.
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SA_2020-03_Poaching trial to resume in May_Grocotts Mail.pdf | 831.45 KB |