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.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2024_04_Namibia warns of rising pangolin trafficking on World Pangolin Day_Xinhua.pdf | 96.53 KB |
Katima Mulilo - Three individuals, Nyambe Calvin Matomola, John Mwelwa, and Nziye Lusinyize, have been brought before the Katima Mulilo Magistrate's Court for alleged possession of controlled wildlife products. The trio was apprehended with a total of 39 elephant tusks, leading to their court appearance on Tuesday. Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism spokesperson, Romeo Muyunda, revealed that Matomola, along with seven Zambian nationals, was caught with 24 tusks after smuggling them into Namibia via the Zambezi Region.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
ZAM_2024_30_Katima Mulilo Court Trials for Elephant Tusk Possession_Namibia News Digest.pdf | 25.4 KB |
Botswana and Namibia have embarked on a joint investigation into the increased incidents of elephant poaching in the northern part of Botswana. "The country (Botswana) experienced a surge in elephant poaching incidents during November and December 2023," Lesego Kgomanyane, the spokesperson for Botswana's Ministry of Environment and Tourism, told Xinhua over the telephone, noting that the development has shone the light on the apparent increase in poaching of elephants in northern Botswana.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
BOT_NAM_2023_12_Botswana_Namibia launch joint elephant poaching investigation_Xinhua.pdf | 359.17 KB |
The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) has recorded a total of 18 pangolin skins, 12 live pangolins and 146 pangolin scales that were confiscated between September and November this year. This is according to the ministry's spokesperson Romeo Muyunda, who in a press statement on Monday said as a result 23 criminal cases have been registered and 38 suspects arrested.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2023_12_MEFT records confiscation of 18 pangolin skins_Namibia News Digest.pdf | 46.32 KB |
A 29-year-old Tanzanian woman is set to appear in the Opuwo Magistrate's court on Thursday for a bail application, in connection with the alleged trafficking of protected plant species. The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) spokesperson Romeo Muyunda in a media statement on Monday said Diana Mashiku was arrested alongside Namibians, Veisiruaije Tjavara (25), Jennifer Simataa (37) and Tjivinda Unatavi (31) for being in possession of 46 Adenia pechuelii plants, which they allegedly harvested from the wild without a permit.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2023_12_Trafficking of protected plant species suspect to apply for bail_Namibia News Digest.pdf | 64.77 KB |
Two men were on Saturday arrested at Farm Kenilworth in the Otjozondjupa Region, after being found in possession of protected game meat valued at N.dollars 22 000.
The four men who were arrested at Okahandja on Sunday and Monday for alleged possession of an elephant tusk, are set to appear in the magistrate’s court at the town this week. Namibian Police Force spokesperson in the Otjozondjupa Region, Inspector Maureen Mbeha in an interview with Nampa on Tuesday said three male suspects aged 23, 28, and 29 were arrested Sunday morning at a restaurant in Okahandja, where they allegedly intended to sell the elephant tusk to a local buyer.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2023_02_Elephant tusk dealing suspects to appear in court at Okahandja_Namibia News Digest.pdf | 228.96 KB |
A man died in a shootout with officers from the Namibian Police Force (NamPol) Wildlife Protection Unit after allegedly being caught in a rhino poaching incident at farm Okarakua in the Windhoek district on Saturday. A crime report issued yesterday by NamPol said the deceased, whose age is unknown, was one of three suspects who were allegedly attempting to kill a rhino cow and its calf around 17h40. Another suspect aged 27 was apprehended and seriously injured in the process, while the third suspect fled the scene. He was however arrested yesterday, it said.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2023_01_Chinese rhino horn smuggler escapes from Namibian prison_Namibia News Digest.pdf | 151.94 KB |
Two men were arrested at Mutengo village in the Kavango West Region on Wednesday after they were reportedly found in possession of a python skin valued at N.dollars 30 000.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2023_01_Two reportedly arrested with python skin at Mutengo village_Namibia News Digest.pdf | 187.35 KB |
A member of the Namibian Police Force's (NamPol) Protected Resources Unit (PRU) in the Otjozondjupa Region, who is accused of the alleged theft of a rhino horn placed under his care, secured bail on Thursday. Magistrate Peingondjabi Shipo granted the 45-year-old Sergeant Salatiel Simon bail of N.dollars 10 000, on condition that the accused does not leave the district of Otjiwarongo without informing police officers involved in the investigations of his case.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2022_12_Police officer accused of theft of rhino horn out on bail_Namibia News Digest.pdf | 235.39 KB |
The rhino horn that reportedly went missing while in the care of a 45-year-old police officer at Otjiwarongo between 30 September and 03 October this year, has been recovered in Angola.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2022_10_Missing rhino horn at Otjiwarongo allegedly recovered in Angola_Namibia News Digest.pdf | 382.99 KB |
It was a mistake. Ten tons of ivory and 190 kilograms of rhino horn were sold over a seven-year period, according to the indictment. It was actually much more than that. Much, much more. Moazu Kromah, a Liberian national, had pled guilty in March to three charges relating to wildlife trafficking in Africa. In his letter pleading for leniency submitted to the Southern District of New York, he thanked the court for the opportunity to "give some information about myself and the circumstances that led me to make the mistakes which bring me before you."
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
AFR_2022_09_African courts need to take the lead in trying traffickers_International Policy Digest.pdf | 748.55 KB |
Namibia is experiencing a surge in poaching, with the number of poached rhinoceros rising to 48 this year, Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said Wednesday. In a statement, Muyunda said of the poached rhinoceros, 32 were black rhinoceros and 16 were white rhinoceros.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_Rhinoceros poaching surges in Namibia_Xinhua.pdf | 188.04 KB |
An adult male, suspected to be a poacher, was shot and killed on Sunday afternoon at Farm Salzbrunnen near Kombat in the Otjozondjupa Region, allegedly during an exchange of gunfire with two farmworkers patrolling the farm.Namibian Police Force.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2022_06_Suspected poacher allegedly shot and killed near Kombat_Namibia News Digest.pdf | 369.88 KB |
A 29-year-old man was arrested on Monday morning after allegedly being found in possession of a protected wildlife product at Rundu in the Kavango East Region. The Namibian Police Force's Chief Inspector in the Kavango East Region, Melanie Mburu told Nampa on Tuesday that the suspect was found in possession of a pangolin skin at Rundu's Ngandu Lodge at around 11h30.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2021_11_Man arrested for possession of pangolin skin at Rundu_Namibiannewsdigest.pdf | 49.26 KB |
A Binga man has been arrested for possession of four elephant tusks. Matabeleland North police spokesperson Inspector Glory Banda confirmed the arrest of Zechariah Nyoni (44) from Bulubuza 44 village in Lusulu for unlawful possession of raw ivory weighing seven kilogrammes and valued at US$1 190. Banda said police received a tip that Nyoni had gone to collect elephant tusks in Chete Safaris near Nagangala River along Binga-Sibuwa road.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
ZIM_2021_09_Ivory lands man in trouble_Rhino Review.pdf | 312.03 KB |
One poacher was killed in an anti-poaching incident in Ditshiping village, Okavango Delta, Botswana Defense Force (BDF) said Tuesday.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
BOT_2021_08_One poacher killed in Botswana_Xinhua.pdf | 189.15 KB |
Namibia is eager to partner with China on wildlife cooperation, the African country's environment minister said during an interview with Xinhua. Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism Pohamba Shifeta said that China has been a supporter of Namibia's conservation programs, adding that he had discussed others areas of cooperation with his counterparts during a trip to China. "Namibia-China cooperation is very cordial and a genuine one, especially when it comes to conservation programs and also environmental programs.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2021_08_ Namibia eager to partner with China on wildlife cooperation_Xinhua.pdf | 202.27 KB |
The two men who were allegedly found with a freshly removed elephant tusk in their possession at Gam in the Tsumkwe Constituency Saturday night, were on Monday remanded in police custody at Tsumkwe. The 23-year-old Karuhava Kahaka and Vekotokeraije Keharara, 38, appeared in the Tsumkwe Periodical Court on Monday on charges of dealing in and/or possession of a prohibited game product.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2021-06_Two remanded in custody for alleged possession of elephant tusk_Namibia News Digest.pdf | 59.95 KB |
A freshly removed elephant tusk was on Saturday night seized from two men who allegedly tried to sell it to an undercover police officer at Gam settlement in the Tsumkwe Constituency.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2021_05_Elephant tusk seized from two suspected dealers at Gam_Namibia News Digest.pdf | 49.43 KB |
Namibia has recorded a drastic drop in poaching cases with only two rhinos poached so far this year compared to 13 poaching cases recorded at the same period last year, Environment Ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said on Monday.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2021_05_Namibia records drop in poaching cases_Xinhua.pdf | 190.24 KB |
A 29-year-old man was arrested for hunting specially protected game at Outjo on Friday, the Namibian Police Force (NamPol) has reported. In its weekend serious crime report issued Sunday, NamPol said the suspect was arrested after allegedly shooting an impala.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2021_04_Man arrested for hunting of protected game at Outjo_Namibia News Digest.pdf | 62.33 KB |
The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) wildlife crime statistics indicate that three new cases of wildlife crime were opened and seven suspects arrested from 29 March 2021 to 06 April 2021. Statistics availed to Nampa on Thursday indicate that six suspects were arrested for rhino poaching, including cases of conspiracy of rhino poaching. One suspect was arrested for alleged elephant poaching and trafficking. One rhino carcass and two elephant tusks were recovered during the period under review, while two firearms were seized.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2021_04_Three cases opened seven suspects arrested for wildlife crimes_Namibia News Digest.pdf | 48.39 KB |
NamPower has launched an internal investigation against its employee, Joel Ochurub, who was arrested Saturday near Kalkfeld after he was allegedly found with poached warthogs and an impala in an official vehicle.
Namibia has drastically cut down on the number of rhino poaching cases in the past year despite the country still battling the problem, Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta told Parliament on Wednesday.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2020-10_Namibia drastically reduces poaching cases_ minister_Xinhua.pdf | 118.59 KB |
Three men were arrested for allegedly possessing elephant tusks on 22 September at Mukwe in the Kavango East Region.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2020-09_Three arrested with elephant tusks_Namibia News Digest.pdf | 129.64 KB |
The Botswana Defence Force (BDF) has reported death of two poachers killed in an anti-poaching incident in the Okavango Delta, bringing the number of poachers killed in the Southern Africa country to seven this year.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
BOT_2020-05_Two poachers shot dead in Botswana_Xinhua_English news cn.pdf | 139.01 KB |
Two men age 33 and 39 were arrested here on Friday for being in possession of controlled wildlife products. The Namibian Police Force crime investigations coordinator for the Kavango East Region, Deputy Commissioner Bonifatius Kanyetu told Nampa on Monday the incident happened at around 21h00. Kanyetu said at the time of the arrest the two men were found in possession of two leopard skins and three pangolin skins.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2020-04_Two arrested for possession of wildlife products at Rundu_Namibiannewsdigest.pdf | 109.48 KB |
Namibia launched an initiative that will contribute to the collective efforts of conserving the environment as well as the conservancies and communities in the rural areas at an event held in Windhoek on Thursday.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2020-02_ Namibia launches conservation fund to tackle human_wildlife conflict.pdf | 159.17 KB |