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.
A man has been arrested in Hazyview for being in possession of a Pangolin, following a tip-off from a local community member. On Tuesday September 27, a private game reserve near Hazyview received the tip-off that a white Bantam bakkie was driving around town looking for a buyer for the Pangolin which is the world's most trafficked animal species.
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SA_2022_09_Hazyview man arrested in possession of endangered Pangolin_Lowvelder.pdf | 399.63 KB |
CapeNature is taking proactive steps to ensure the Western Cape's precious biodiversity is protected, following the shocking escalation in succulent and other plant poaching, which has seen hundreds of thousands of plants being stolen from South Africa. The poaching has increased hugely since 2018, with most of these plants being destined for the Asian market.
The Gobabis Magistrates Court has declared self-styled prophet and preacher, Jackson Babi, unfit to possess a firearm for a period of four years and fined him N$370 000 or a jail term for 17 years. The court stated this during the sentencing hearing, when the prophet was sentenced on 12 counts of crimes related to rhino poaching.
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NAM_2022_09_Poaching syndicate unravels with Babi sentencing_Informante.pdf | 1.08 MB |
Two Zambian nationals were arrested on Thursday, 1 September, at about 14:30, after they were found in possession of four elephant tusks, which they attempted to sell to an undercover officer. According to the police, the incident happened in Ibbu village in Katima Mulilo. It is further alleged that the suspects entered the country without valid documents. The suspects are scheduled to make their first court appearance at the Ngoma Magistrate Court on Monday, 5 September. Police investigations continue.
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NAM_2022_09_Two Zambians arrested for selling tusks to undercover cop_Informante.pdf | 63.81 KB |
A serial poacher with previous convictions is in police custody after he was arrested and treated for a leg wound that he sustained when the owner of the farm Kaliombo in die notorious poaching district of Karibib fired a shot at three fleeing suspects carrying meat. The police said that the farm owner patrolled and inspected his farm after he heard dogs barking and was also alerted by security guards of the possibility that there were poachers moving about. The owners came upon three suspected poachers accompanied by three hunting dogs carrying meat.
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NAM_2022_08_Serial poacher wounded and arrested_Informante.pdf | 1.25 MB |
A total of 82 rhinos have been poached in the Kruger National Park between January and June this year.
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SA_2022_08_Rhino poaching numbers increase from 2021_Lowvelder.pdf | 152.82 KB |
Two men were on Saturday arrested after being found in possession of protected plant species at Okahandja.
The duo, a Namibian and Chinese national were found with four Adenia pechuelii (elephant foot) plants; 15xCyphostema plants; eight Commphoras plants; five plastics containing Welwitschia seeds and 12x plastics with differentunidentified seeds. Ministry of Environment spokesperson Romeo Muyunda stated that this came after Ministry officials followed up on avideo in which the two suspects were seen collecting protected plants reportedly in the area of Usakos.
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NAM_2022_07_Two arrested for protected plants species_Informante.pdf | 59.46 KB |
Three men who had allegedly poached the four rhinos and were able to dehorn three of them, appeared in the Bushbuckridge Magistrate's Court on Monday July 4.
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SA_2022_07_Four Kruger rhinos killed_three dehorned_Lowvelder.pdf | 410.63 KB |
Three alleged poachers were arrested in the Kruger National Park after allegedly killing four rhinos on Friday July 1.
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SA_2022_07_Three alleged poachers arrested in the Kruger National Park_Lowvelder.pdf | 133.45 KB |
Following the poaching of 11 rhinos in the Etosha National Park in the past month, the Namibian Government stepped up wildlife security and strategic plans to ensure maximum protection of Namibia's iconic species. This includes the immediate deployment of retired Commissioner Ndahangwapo Kashihakumwa to Etosha National Park.
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NAM_2022_06_Government tightens security after rhino poaching_Informante.pdf | 1.63 MB |
Amidst shocking discoveries of wildlife poaching incidents in the country recently, such as the 11 black rhinos killed in Etosha recently, Minister of Environment and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta on Wednesday launched the first ever National Stakeholder Forum on Wildlife Protection and Law Enforcement to strengthen the fight against the crimes. Shifeta said Namibia has experienced a massive surge in wildlife crime over the past decade, driven by increased global demand for illegal wildlife products.
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NAM_2022_06_Catch the poachers_Shifeta orders_Informante.pdf | 882.15 KB |
The huge police operation launched after the discovery of two poached rhinos on the north-western side of the Etosha National Park has led to the gruesome find of another nine rhinos killed. All the animals are critically endangered black rhinos. According to Ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda, this brings the total number of rhinos poached in six months to 22.
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NAM_2022_06_11 rhinos poached in Etosha totalling 22 in six months_Informante.pdf | 197.56 KB |
It is suspected that setting snares in the Lowveld has increased by 20% from last season while the Kruger National Park has had an increase of 50%.
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SA_2022_06_Poaching by snare on the rise in the Lowveld_Lowvelder.pdf | 1.02 MB |
A 47-year-old man was sentenced to nine years' imprisonment on Friday for illegal poaching. Sam Khoza (47) was apprehended in the Kruger National Park on November 11, 2020, when a shoot-out between field rangers in the park, Khoza and his two accomplices ensued. A statement by a provincial police spokesperson, Brig Selvy Mohlala, said two of the suspects evaded arrest, but Khoza, who sustained some injuries during the shooting, was captured. He was found in possession of a rifle, some ammunition as well as a silencer.
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SA_2022_05_Skukuza Regional Court sentences poacher to nine years imprisonment_Lowvelder.pdf | 446.05 KB |
Commissioned six years ago and kept under lock and key by the Office of the KZN Premier until now, the hidden report into rhino poaching in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) has been partially released to the Democratic Alliance (DA) following extensive pressure. At last count, rhino poaching figures this year so far (just over four months) have surpassed the total for 2021, with 108 rhino killed by poachers for their horns which are smuggled to countries like China and Vietnam.
Ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda stated about 4 000 timber pieces and a timber cutting machine have been confiscated, but the value of the timber has not been determined. This is the second largest illegal timber activity reported within a month.
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NAM_2022_05_Two arrested_planks and timber cutting machine confiscated_Informante.pdf | 152.04 KB |
On April 1 the number of rhinos poached in Hluhluwe-uMfolozi Park, KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), since the 1st of January was 60. It's just one month later, and that already horrific number has shockingly jumped to 94 (actually 95, as of yesterday). Imagine how many rhinos will now not be born because of those that have been killed in Hluhluwe-uMfolozi just this year! Every rhino counts.
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SA_2022_05_95 Rhinos Poached in Hluhluwe_uMfolozi Park So Far in 2022_SAPeople.pdf | 480.95 KB |
A TRUCK containing unprocessed timber intended for exportation to South Africa was seized by Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism officials in Windhoek. Ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said the 1 500 planks on the truck are held and the transport permit is temporarily suspended, pending further investigations to establish where the timber came from and if it was legally acquired. Muyunda stated that in 2018 the Ministry introduced a moratorium on timber harvesting, transportation, marketing and exporting. "This has led to a…
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NAM_2022_04_Truck with unprocessed timber seized_Informante.pdf | 117.7 KB |
At least 71 rhino have been poached this year alone in Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife parks, putting KZN on the road to the species facing extinction in the region within the next five years!
The reopening of the Skukuza Regional Court is producing positive results, with a 100% conviction rate for rhino poachers over the past two years. The court had been closed by the Mpumalanga Regional Court president Naomi Engelbrecht in August 2019, who wanted it to be moved to Mhala Court about 100 kilometres from Skukuza. However, this decision was overruled and the court was reopened again in April 2021.
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SA_2022_04_Poachers face full might of the law in Skukuza court_Lowvelder.pdf | 526.82 KB |
Sibusiso Mahlaule (29), George Manyise (30) and Rodrigues Ngobeni (34) did not escape the might of the law and were sentenced by the Skukuza Regional Court for poaching on Friday March 11. The three were caught by field rangers in Kruger National Park on April 18, 2021. It was reported that the rangers, working at Pretoriuskop, had discovered some tracks that brought the presence of intruders to their attention.
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SA_2022_03_Three poachers plead guilty and sentenced by Skukuza Regional Court_Lowvelder.pdf | 608.19 KB |
South African National Parks (SANParks) today, 19 March 2022, welcomed the sentence meted out by the Skukuza Regional Court to a man convicted on 12 counts associated with poaching. The accused, Mike Nyathi, a 39 year old Mozambican man with a South African citizenship, faced 14 charges relating to two separate cases of rhino poaching.
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SA_2022_03_Rhino Poacher in Kruger Park Handed 53 Years Jail Sentence_SAPeople.pdf | 401.03 KB |
Two Angolans and three Namibians, of which one is a traditional doctor, were remanded in custody after being arrested for possession of 29 pieces of elephant tusks at Onhuno, Helao Nafidi Town.
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NAM_2022_03_Five remain in custody for possession of ivory_Informante.pdf | 70.63 KB |
Mpumalanga's AB Steyn and Limpopo's Dawie Groenewald appeared in the Nelspruit Magistrate's Court on February 23 and 24. The pair's previous appearance was on December 10 last year when the case was postponed for the fourth time. Some issues were raised by each of their legal representatives yesterday including that the state was dragging its feet in the case, that the state should be held responsible for the teams' travel costs because of the delays, and that documents were not presented in the way they were supposed to be.
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SA_2022_02_Alleged rhino horn possession case goes to Nelspruit Regional Court in June_Lowvelder.pdf | 584.56 KB |
The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism said the illegal capture, killing and trade of pangolins for international markets has increased in recent years. Since 2017, the ministry recorded 320 pangolin poaching cases in the country. Of those, the highest number was reported in 2019 with 96 cases, followed by 62 in 2018, 60 in 2020, 59 in 2021, with the lowest reported in 2017, namely 43 cases.
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NAM_2022_02_Pangolin poaching cases reach 320 in five years_Informante.pdf | 70.48 KB |
Four suspected rhino poachers were arrested over the weekend (15-18 October) in the Kruger National Park, thanks to the brave efforts of members of the Rangers Corp, assisted by the K9 Unit and the Aviators of the Airwing. The arrests - as well as one fatality - took place in the Stolznek section of the Park, South African National Parks (SANParks) said in an announcement today.
The poaching of endangered species such as rhinos and elephants in Namibia has significantly decline this year. This is according to data provided by Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism on Thursday. So for, a total of 14 rhinos and five elephants were killed by poachers this year in Namibia.
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NAM_2021_10_Rhino and elephant poaching declines_Informante.pdf | 2.36 MB |
As we celebrate World Rhino Day today - 22 September - we recognise the pioneering technological innovations that are proving to be highly effective in protecting Africa’s threatened rhino populations from poachers.
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SA_2021_09_Postcode Meerkat_A Guardian of South Africas Rhinos_SAPeople.pdf | 853.97 KB |
The court case against the alleged poaching kingpin, Joseph "Big Joe" Nyalungu, has been postponed until February 14, 2022, when his trial will expectedly begin in the Skukuza Regional Court. According to Monica Nyuswa, the spokesperson or the National Prosecuting Authority, the trial was postponed because the court’s recording equipment was out of order. Nyalungu would have appeared with his South African co-accused on Tuesday September 21, while the accused from Mozambique were expected to appear on Thursday September 23.
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SA_2021_09_Faulty court equipment leads to postponement of Big Joe case_Lowvelder.pdf | 475.97 KB |
Klerksdorp, South Africa (Reuters) - South Africa's largest private rhino breeder - John Hume - says he has kept the rhino on his farm safe from poachers for four and a half years but cannot continue if he is not allowed to sell their horns.
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SA_2021_09_South African Rhino Breeder Begs Let Me Sell My Rhinos Horns to Save Them_SAPeople.pdf | 768.98 KB |
AB Steyn and Dawie Groenewald appeared in the Nelspruit Magistrate's Court again on September 17 after they had been arrested in Mbombela on July 20. The pair was arrested for the alleged possession of 19 rhino horns on July 20, and after appearing in court on July 23 for the first time, they were released on bail of R50 000 each. Following their appearance today (September 17) the case was again postponed to December 10 for further investigation.
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SA_2021_09_Case of alleged possession of rhino horn postponed again_Lowvelder.pdf | 586.59 KB |
Three rhino poachers were yesterday sentenced to 105 years in prison by the Skukuza Regional Court, for rhino poaching and related offences. The South African National Parks (SANParks) today, 3 September, welcomed the sentencing.
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SA_2021_09_Rhino Poachers Sentenced to 105 Years in Prison_SAPeople.pdf | 533.3 KB |
Minister of Environment Barbara Creecy today released the latest rhino poaching statistics for South Africa, whilst also paying tribute to SANParks' rangers, including those rangers who tragically died over the past year. Minister of Environment Barbara Creecy today released the latest rhino poaching statistics for South Africa, whilst also paying tribute to SANParks’ rangers, including those rangers who tragically died over the past year.
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SA_2021_07_Rhino Poaching Update as SA Pays Tribute to Brave and Fallen Rangers_SA People.pdf | 1.07 MB |
Prophet Jackson Babi has been remanded in custody again after High Court Judge Harald January dismissed his bail appeal. The judge did not make available the full judgment, saying it will only be available later after it has been edited. Babi has been in custody since last year after he was arrested on poaching charges.
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NAM_2021_07_Prophet Babi remanded in custody_Informante.pdf | 555.91 KB |
SANParks and security partners in the Greater Kruger Region are jointly implementing a range of interventions as part of an integrated wildlife management approach to counter the effects of wildlife crime, in particular rhino poaching.
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SA_2021_07_SANParks and Greater Kruger partners to strengthen their anti_poaching approach_Lowvelder.pdf | 443.61 KB |
Judgement in the matter where Prophet Jackson Babi is appealing a decision that denied him bail will be handed own later this week. Babi is appealing a judgment handed down by a magistrate in the lower court.
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NAM_2021_07_Babis bail appeal judgment is not ready_Informante.pdf | 1.46 MB |
The men were arrested on Wednesday afternoon for the illegal possession of 19 rhino horns.
The two men who were arrested for the illegal possession and selling of rhino horns on Wednesday, appeared in the Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court on Thursday afternoon. They are Schalk Abraham Steyn (48), better known to Lowvelders as AB, and Limpopo game farmer, Dawid Groenewald (52).
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SA_2021_07_ Accused in Mbombela rhino horn bust identified_Lowvelder.pdf | 975.63 KB |
The Protected Resources Sub Division of the Namibian Police has launched an investigation into the origin of four rhino horns found in possession of four suspects during an impromptu roadblock in the Kunene Region. According to a success report provided by NamPol’s Public Relations Division, the four men were travelling in a minibus taxi from Kamanjab to Opuwo when they were found in possession of four horns wrapped in tinfoil.
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NAM_2021_07_Four men found in possession of rhino horn_Informante.pdf | 1.5 MB |
Gunshots ensued when a private walking safari concession came across suspected poachers in the Kruger National Park. SANParks announced today that a suspected poacher was fatally wounded in a contact situation with guides of a private walking safari concession in the Kruger National Park (KNP). The incident took place in the early hours of Friday July 2. The guides were on a walk with one guest when they came across a group of three suspected poachers.
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SA_2021_07_Suspected poacher reportedly wounded in the Kruger_Lowvelder.pdf | 240.67 KB |
With lockdown restrictions eased since last year, the rhino poaching war has certainly heated up in South Africa. The last seven days have been hectic - a suspected rhino poaching kingpin gunned down just before appearing in court, three suspected poachers arrested in separate incidents (with tourists helping report them), and at least 21 poaching related incidents taking place in the Kruger National Park (KNP) - as well as one successful conviction.
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SA_2021_06_Rhino Poaching_25 Incidents_3 Arrests_1 Sentence_ Kingpin Killed in 1 Week_SA People.pdf | 504.51 KB |
The Namibian Police Force in the Oshana Region have arrested a 41-year-old man after he was found in possession of protected wildlife products at Oshakati. According to an arrest report provided by the Public Relation Division of the Namibian Police, a case of possession of controlled wildlife products was registered on Friday evening. "The suspect was arrested at Okatana Service Station in Oshakati, after he was found in possession of a pangolin skin," said police.
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NAM_2021_06_Pangolin skin gets man arrested_Informante.pdf | 1.23 MB |
A Namibian Defense Force (NDF) member and a police officer currently stationed at the Etosha national park were arrested last night after they were found in the possession of rhino horns in Oshikango. Speaking to Informanté, Ohangwena Regional Crime Coordinator Sakaria Amakali said that the two suspected poachers were arrested in a sting operation following a tip off. The value of the horns is not yet known. "The two suspects will only be charged today and appear in the Ohangwena court tomorrow," Amakali stated.
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NAM_2021_06_Cop_soldier arrested for poaching_Informante.pdf | 2.33 MB |
The search for the missing rhino calf at the Ghaub Nature Reserve ended sadly when the baby's carcass was discovered in the bush. The Director One Namibia, the Ghaub Nature Reserve, and Farm Ghaub, Joachim Rust said their hope to find the calf of Zanna, a rhino cow that was killed by poachers on the farm about three weeks ago, alive never wavered.
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NAM_2021_06_Rhino calf found dead after weeks of searching_Informante.pdf | 1.4 MB |
SANParks announced today (5 June 2021) that well executed operations at the end of May led to the arrest of four suspected poachers. The first incident was last weekend, on Sunday 30 May in the Pretoriuskop Section, and the other on Monday in the Houtboschrand Section, both located in the South of the Kruger National Park (KNP). SANParks said that rangers (with K9 support) responded last Sunday to a visual of two suspected rhino poachers and went in pursuit of them.
Prophet Jackson Babi has lodged an appeal against a ruling in which a Magistrate denied him bail, saying that the presiding officer misdirected himself when he made the ruling. The appeal was scheduled for hearing in the Windhoek High court today, but will only be heard on 23 June 2021. Babi was arrested on poaching charges and possession of a cellphone while in police custody, as well as bribery. In his heads of argument, Babi claims that during the bail application, no evidence was provided to show he would interfere with investigations if he is granted bail.
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NAM_2021_06_Jackson Babi to appeal bail judgment_Informante.pdf | 2.17 MB |
The brutal slaughter of two rhinos on Farm Ghaub in the area of Tsumeb in the past week not only left a huge void in the hearts and lives of their minders but also sabotaged job opportunities for people in the tourism industry of Namibia. The owners of Farm Ghaub decided to offer a reward of N$50 000 for information that would lead to the arrest and successful prosecution of the people responsible for the slaughter of Zanna and another rhino cow.
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NAM_2021_05_Big reward offered for the arrest of poachers_Informante.pdf | 2.35 MB |
Trauma and feelings of utter loss were laid bare by the owner of a white rhino cow that was brutally slaughtered by poachers. Joachim Rust of Farm Ghaub gives a heart-rendering eyewitness account of what he had to go through when he discovered the dead rhino on his property.
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NAM_2021_05_Goodbye Zanna_Informante.pdf | 2.97 MB |
During their investigation of the Bruwer case, the Hawks found that Elliot Sindane (69), Elvis Mlimi (50) and Mabuthi Khoza (35) were implicated on charges of illegal hunting, illegal possession of firearms and illegal rhino horn dealings over a decade ago.
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SA_2021_04_Hawks revive old cases against suspects in Bruwer case_Lowvelder.pdf | 432.38 KB |
Prophet Jackson Babi has yet again been denied bail in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court, because of fear he might again interfere with investigations, as he faces a bribery charge in addition to the poaching charges he was initially arraigned on. In the bribery case, Babi is accused of attempting to bribe a police officer with N$13 000.
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NAM_2021_03_Babi denied bail again_Informante.pdf | 1.5 MB |