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.
Despite progress to curtail the trafficking of iconic species such as elephants, illegal wildlife trafficking continues unabated on a global scale. This is according to the 2024 World Wildlife Crime Report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which takes stock of efforts to counter poaching worldwide. The report highlights that wildlife trafficking has not seen a significant enough decrease over the past two decades, prompting a call for enhanced enforcement of existing laws, including measures to combat corruption.
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NAM_2024_05_Illegal wildlife trade remains immense_UN_Namibian Sun.pdf | 66.33 KB |
The suspects involved in the poaching of a white rhinoceros bull on a farm in the Gobabis district remain in custody. According to the spokesperson of the Namibian police, Deputy Commissioner Kauna Shikwambi, the suspects have already appeared in the magistrate's courts of Gobabis and Katutura in Windhoek over the past weekend. The names of the suspects as provided by Shikwambi are Micheal Shomeya Koshondatile (39), Barnabas Shitaleni Muzanime (35), 31-year-old Petrus Petrus Nghifindaka, Victory Henghono (also 31), and 34-year-old Imanuel Stafanus Nangwasha.
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2024_05_No bail for rhino poachers from Gobabis bull_Namibian Sun.pdf | 296.26 KB |
A former Namibian Police inspector charged with conspiracy to commit rhino poaching has failed in his challenge against a decision that he is unfit to serve on the force. Wersimus Haipa approached the Windhoek High Court and argued that his dismissal was "illegal" and "unfair". He demanded that he be reinstated and that the safety and security ministry compensate him for the salaries he would have received had he not been fired. Haipa was a member of the Namibian Police for 26 years before he was fired in September 2021 based on criminal charges against him.
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NAM_2024_05_Ex_cop fails to overturn poaching dismissal_Namibian Sun.pdf | 69.99 KB |
A Windhoek City Police constable was arrested on Friday for allegedly using a work car to transport suspected poachers and fresh meat from poached animals. It is alleged that he intentionally used a company car in order to pass through a police roadblock with minimal suspicion. As of Saturday, the officer had not yet been charged and is currently being held at the Seeis police cells outside Windhoek.
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NAM_2024_05_Cop nabbed for transporting suspected poachers_Namibian Sun.pdf | 172.57 KB |
A total of 707 suspects have been arrested in connection with rhino poaching between January 2023 and March of this year. Currently, 589 suspects are in custody awaiting trial, 91 suspects have been convicted, 21 are out on bail, five have been released, two were acquitted, and one suspect has died. Environment minister Pohamba Shifeta provided these statistics during his budget motivation for the 2024-2025 financial year.
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NAM_2024_04_Hundreds behind bars for rhino poaching_Namibian Sun.pdf | 65.67 KB |
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NAM_2024_Urgent meeting called to discuss steep rise in rhino poaching_Namibian Sun.pdf | 71.82 KB |
A handful of hunting guides have been arrested in various parts of the country over the past few months, each charged with separate illegal activities related to leopard hunting. The ministry is working very closely with the police and has decided that if the industry cannot rid itself of illicit practices, then rigorous law enforcement is the only option.
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NAM_2024_03_Growing number of leopard_hunting guides arrested_Namibian Sun.pdf | 156.24 KB |
Three Namibians were nabbed last week after they were caught in possession of close to 450 kilograms of protected plants, estimated to be worth nearly N$80 000. According to the Namibian Police, the three men - aged 27, 30 and 37 - were caught at the Namasira police checkpoint in the Kavango West Region last Friday. Police discovered the men were transporting seven 150-kilogram bags containing 176 gouty-vine (cyphostemma) plants weighing, 429 kilograms in total. The pants were valued at N$79 288.
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NAM_2024_03_Three men caught with protected plants worth NS80 000_Namibian Sun.pdf | 204.71 KB |
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NAM_2024_02_Judges order release of alleged poachers_Namibian Sun.pdf | 229.63 KB |
Two men are expected to appear in the Vryheid magistrate's court after they were arrested with two rhino horns and a rie hidden in their car's engine compartment. KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Lt-Col Nqobile Gwala said ofcers acted on information about the suspects and spotted their vehicle on the R34 travelling towards Vryheid and a high-speed chase ensued.
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SA_2024_19_Police arrest two men with rhino horns after high_speed car chase_Timeslive.pdf | 414.61 KB |
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NAM_SRT challenges military style approach to poaching_Namibian Sun.pdf | 457.63 KB |
Wildlife conservation continues to face the acute challenges of poaching, habitat fragmentation and human-wildlife conflict. Environment ministry executive director Teofilus Nghitila said due to Namibia's successful conservation methods, which have led to increased wildlife populations outside national parks, human-wildlife conflict has increased. "The situation is worsened by the current disparities in rainfall as well as the growing human population," he said in his end-of-year message.
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NAM_2023_12_Wildlife conflict_poaching threaten conservation_Namibian Sun.pdf | 384.58 KB |
Environment ministry executive director Teofilus Nghitila says 48 rhinos have been poached so far this year. The figure shows a decrease from the 92 animals poached last year. Meanwhile, eight elephants were poached this year - compared to four last year - but this still much better than the previous years' figures, which reached 27 in 2018. The ministry – in collaboration with various law enforcement agencies - set up a response team when poaching skyrocketed in 2013.
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NAM_2023_12_Rhino poaching decreased by half_Namibian Sun.pdf | 337.23 KB |
There has been an increase in the number of arrests made in crimes related to pangolin trafficking between 1 September and 30 November. According to environment ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda, 18 pangolin skins, 12 live pangolins and 146 scales were confiscated, resulting in 23 registered cases and 38 suspects being arrested. "These numbers surpass that of elephant and rhino arrests combined for this period."
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NAM_2023_12_Pangolin trafficking arrests surge_Namibian Sun.pdf | 307.15 KB |
Namibia's average criminal market score was 4.1, an increase of 0.2 since 2021. The country scored 3.5 on human trafficking and 4.5 in arms trafficking. For flora crimes, Namibia scored 6.5, and for fauna crimes - which would include rhino poaching and the linked trade in horns - it scored 4.5.
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NAM_2023_12_Organised crime low in Namibia_Namibian Sun.pdf | 333.63 KB |
Despite the fact that Namibia is one of African countries that experiences the least crime, much still needs to be done to improve law enforcement, among other things.
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NAM_2023_11_Namibias crime levels relatively low_Namibian Sun.pdf | 313.86 KB |
A total of 24 elephant tusks were confiscated, while one suspect was arrested and seven others fled the scene when their car was searched last Friday in the Zambezi Region. According to the environment ministry, the police, the defence force and ministry officials searched vehicles as part of an intelligence-led operation in pursuit of a syndicate of Zambian nationals who were embarking on transnational poaching of elephants in neighbouring Botswana using Zambezi as a transit root. It said security operatives intercepted the vehicle used to transport elephant tusks.
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NAM_2023_11_24 elephant tusks confiscated_Namibian Sun.pdf | 341.06 KB |
A total of 24 elephant tusks were confiscated, while one suspect was arrested and seven others fled the scene when their car were searched on Friday in the Zambezi Region. According to the environment ministry, members of the ministry, the police and the defence force were searching vehicles as part of an intelligence-led operation in pursuit of a syndicate of Zambian nationals who were embarking on transnational poaching of elephants in neighbouring Botswana using the Zambezi Region as a transit root.
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NAM_2023_ 24 elephant tusks confiscated_Namibian Sun.pdf | 245.11 KB |
The two suspects were caught in the early hours of Friday morning with five goats in their possession which had been poached. The men also poached two kudus, two waterbucks and a gemsbok worth N$35 000 in the Khomas Region.
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NAM_2023_11_Hired car used in poaching_stock theft_Namibian Sun.pdf | 486.8 KB |
The environment ministry has welcomed sentences of at least 13 years in prison each for four rhino poachers. The sentences were handed down in the Windhoek Regional Court last week. Former Brave Warriors chiropractor Gerson Kandjii (51) was also involved in the case, but died in custody in 2021. The arrests stem from an incident in December 2016, when four white rhinos were poached on a private farm in the Gobabis district. On 22 December 2016, the suspects, allegedly without a hunting permit, killed four white rhinos - two…
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NAM_2023_10_Co_accused in Kandjii poaching case get years behind bars_Namibian Sun.pdf | 344.63 KB |
A high-speed chase forced three suspects to abandon their vehicle, rhino horn, communications tower battery, silencer, firearm and ammunition while evading arrest. They were intercepted by Volksrust, Mpumalanga, police conducting a stop and search operation at 10pm in Mandela Drive on Monday, police said.
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SA_2023_10_Rhino horn traffickers foiled_TimesLive.pdf | 233.67 KB |
Two correctional officers who were suspended after the escape of Chinese rhino-horn smuggler Wang Hui have been found guilty by an internal disciplinary process. Deputy Commissioner-General Mariana Martin of the Namibian Correctional Service (NCS) told Namibian Sun that based on an investigation, three officers were suspended after Wang's escape. "All three correctional officers suspended were eventually charged, with at present two found guilty of misconduct under the Correctional Service Act."
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NAM_2023_10_Prison wardens fined for chinese inmates escape_Namibian Sun.pdf | 354.82 KB |
Policw in Harare on Sunday arrested a self-styled prophet for possessing a three-metre long python skin.
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ZIM_2023_09_Self_styled prophet arrested for python skin_The Sunday Mail.pdf | 130.32 KB |
This year, 39 rhinos have been poached so far in Namibia, compared to 92 in 2022 and 50 in 2021. Tourism minister Pohamba Shifeta presented these figures at the commemoration of World Rhino Day on Friday at Okaukuejo in Etosha National Park. At the event, the minister also officially launched a horse anti-poaching unit. A total of 13 horses have been purchased by the ministry for N$10 000 each, with funding support from the Game Product Trust Fund.
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NAM_2023_09_Horses roped into rhino protection fight_Namibian Sun.pdf | 456.61 KB |
Right after wildlife dealer Johan Lombaard was released on bail earlier this week, he was arrested again in connection with a case dating back to 2014. The 57-year-old appeared in the Gobabis Magistrate's Court on Wednesday for the illegal capture and transport of game to the value of N$817 000. He and his co- accused, his brother Johannes Jacobus Lombaaard (54) and Rudie Kotze (49), were granted N$50 000 bail each. The Lombaard brothers established Golden Game, a wildlife farming, capturing and export business in Mariental.…
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NAM_2023_09_Lombaard arrested again_Namibian Sun.pdf | 244.76 KB |
Two brothers will appear in the Gobabis Magistrate's Court today for their formal bail application on charges of illegally capturing and transporting game to the value of N$817 000. Johan (57) and Kobus Lombaard (54) - who founded Golden Game, a wildlife farming, capturing and export business - stand accused of illegally transporting game or game meat under the Nature Conservation Ordinance and selling and purchasing game without a permit. They also face charges under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act for disguising the…
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NAM_2023_09_Lombaard brothers charged with illegal capture of game_Namibian Sun.pdf | 367.16 KB |
The City of Windhoek says it will probe complaints that grass, trees and wood are being harvested illegally at Avis Dam. This comes after Namibia Media Holdings received a complaint and photos from a concerned Avis resident who said persons, who hold permits to harvest grass on Windhoek's side roads, apparently drove trucks full of grass and wood from the dam.
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NAM_2023_09_Illegal logging claims at Avis Dam_Namibian Sun.pdf | 317.34 KB |
The Limpopo endangered species unit arrested three suspects after were allegedly found in possession of a pangolin in Bochum n Sunday. They were charged with wildlife trafficking and contravening the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, Members of the unit, acting on a tip-off arrested the three suspects who were trying to sell the pangolin.
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SA_2023_09_Three arrested after allegedly trying to sell a pangolin in Bochum_TimesLive.pdf | 153.46 KB |
Two former government officials have been sentenced for corruption and money laundering linked to the abalone trade, the Hawks confirmed on Saturday. The officials, Winston Mervin Busch and Nomvuyo Concellia Motloung, were among a group of 18 suspects arrested in a 2018 swoop on an abalone syndicate operating in the Western Cape. The group comprised several marine inspectors from the department of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, as well as several members of an abalone poaching syndicate, the Hawks said. Twelve of the group have now been sentenced.
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SA_2023_09_Two government officials sentenced in landmark abalone case_Times Live.pdf | 393.11 KB |
The Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) plays a vital role in countering organised wildlife crime in Namibia. With a renewed spike in rhino poaching in 2022, the FIC's role underlines the extent to which rhino poaching is driven by organised criminal gangs and the extensive criminal networks that facilitate horn trafficking. This is according to the National Namibia Wildlife Protection Report for 2022, which found that poaching and trafficking of live plants also appear to be coordinated via well-organised online platforms…
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NAM_2023_08_FIC vital in fight against organised wildlife crimes_Namibian Sun.pdf | 356.83 KB |
Assets and goods seized and forfeited to the state during the finalisation of wildlife crime cases at special courts last year were valued at more than N$4 million. The seized items included illegal wildlife products, firearms and vehicles used in wildlife crimes. According to the Wildlife Protection and Law Enforcement Report in Namibia, the judicial system faces a range of challenges in dealing with high rates of crime and ensuring justice is served; a central hurdle is a growing backlog of cases on the court rolls. "This has…
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NAM_2023_07_Special wildlife crime courts highly effective_Namibian Sun.pdf | 332.47 KB |
"Of the 2 442 suspects arrested since 2015, only 822 (33.7%) had been convicted by 15 May," a report said.
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NAM_2023_07_Slow convictions impede poaching fight_Namibian Sun.pdf | 364.07 KB |
Rhinos were the most-targeted high-value species in Namibia during 2022, comprising 24% of all registered wildlife cases, with poaching losses at their highest since 2015. This according to the wildlife protection and law enforcement report for 2022, which indicated that a total of 430 wildlife cases were reported last year - of which 106 were rhino poaching cases.
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NAM_2023_07_Poaching_rhinos the most targeted in 2022_Namibian Sun.pdf | 365.66 KB |
Trafficking of live plants, particularly rare and endemic succulents and pachycauls, has exploded as an illegal trade threatening rare species in Namibia. According to the Wildlife Protection and Law Enforcement in Namibia report for 2022, the first cases were only registered last year. However, high volumes of live plants have already been seized and numerous suspects arrested. The report indicated that 11 cases were registered last year and 22 suspects were arrested, with two convictions.
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NAM_2023_07_Trafficking of endemic Namibian succulents surges_Namibian Sun.pdf | 354.24 KB |
Cape Town police arrested a 43-year-old man for operating an illegal abalone processing facility at a house in Constantia. They seized abalone worth about R2m.
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SA_2023_07_Illegal abalone processing facility uncovered in upmarket Constantia_TimesLive.pdf | 510.09 KB |
A poacher from Mozambique has been convicted and sentenced to 22 years in prison for killing two rhinos in the Kruger National Park.
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SA_2023_07_Poacher sentenced to 22 years in prison for killing two rhinos_TimesLive.pdf | 223.52 KB |
Two men were arrested for hunting protected game without a permit in Maltahöhe on Saturday. According to a police report, the suspects - aged 32 and 66 - were found in possession of a kudu valued at N$6 000. Officers recovered various parts of the animal, including the back, head, skin, internal organs and all four hoofs.
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NAM_2023_06_Two arrested for illegal hunting_Namibian Sun.pdf | 270.65 KB |
Satellite-tagged vultures uncover two suspected poisoning incidents near Kafue National Park. Conservation groups alongside Africa Parks and Zambia's Department of National Parks and Wildlife have been using a myriad of tools to protect Kafue's wildlife, including deploying some 40 anti-poaching patrol teams. One of the more innovative approaches is tagging white-backed and hooded vultures with satellite trackers to quickly alert wildlife managers of poached or poisoned carcasses.
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ZAM_2023_06_Vulture surveillance system alerts Zambian park to poachers_TimesLive.pdf | 242 KB |
A 51-year-old man is expected to appear in a Free State court after he was found with abalone shells worth more than R300,000. The man was arrested in Bayswater in Mangaung on Thursday afternoon after intelligence-led information led police to his home, Free State police spokesperson Lt-Col Thabo Covane said. "A team made up of tactical response team members and detectives arrived at the targeted unit in the identified complex at about 12.45pm." Members tactically gained access to the unit and found the male hiding inside the bedroom.
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SA_2023_05_Man arrested in Free State with 782 abalone shells worth R300K_TimesLive.pdf | 222.56 KB |
Seven suspects were arrested last month in connection with wildlife crimes, with four fake rhino horns amongst products seized by the police. This according to the latest wildlife crime statistics report issued by the police and the environment ministry. Three newly registered wildlife crime cases were reported.
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NAM_2023_05_Seven arrested for wildlife crimes_Namibian Sun.pdf | 312.91 KB |
At least eight suspects were arrested over the Easter Weekend for rhino poaching-related crimes in two separate incidents. According to the spokesperson of the environment ministry Romeo Muyunda, two suspects were arrested on 6 April on the Tsumeb/Otavi road at a mobile roadblock for illegally entering the Etosha National Park to hunt rhinos. Two fresh rhino horns were found in their possession and confiscated by the law enforcement agencies led by the Blue Rhino Task Team.
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NAM_2023_04_Eight arrested for rhino poaching over easter_Namibian Sun.pdf | 391.33 KB |
Two men were arrested yesterday around 09:00 in the Dordabis area after they allegedly poached two black rhinos, a cow and a calf, on a farm. The suspects had a hunting rifle in their possession, as well as 15 bullets, of which three had already been used. Two rhino horns were also found. The rhinos are valued at around N$500 000 each. The men were charged with various offences, including hunting protected wildlife and being in possession of unlicensed weapons. Police investigations continue.
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NAM_2023_03_Two rhino poachers apprehended_Namibian Sun.pdf | 309.21 KB |
A 33-year-old man has been jailed for five years after being caught transporting rhino horns to Johannesburg on June 22 last year.
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SA_2023_02_Man jailed for five years for possession of rhino horns_TimesLive.pdf | 229.63 KB |
The environment ministry has condemned an incident in which one of its staff members was arrested, together with three other suspects, on suspicion of illegally hunting a blue wildebeest in the Daan Viljoen Park near Windhoek. The spokesperson of the ministry, Romeo Muyunda, said the incident occurred on Tuesday at a roadblock between Daan Viljoen and Windhoek.
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NAM_2023_02_MEFT official arrested for alleged poaching_Namibian Sun.pdf | 323.75 KB |
A total of 87 rhinos were poached last year, of which 45 were killed in the Etosha National Park. This is according to new statistics released by the environment and tourism ministry, which show that last year, 61 black rhinos and 26 white rhinos were killed. In 2022, poaching cases included 15 rhinos poached on custodianship farms and another 25 white rhinos on private farms. Namibia recorded 45 rhinos poached in 2021, 43 in 2020, 61 in 2019, 84 in 2018 and 55 in 2017. So far this year, one rhino has been poached. Meanwhile, four elephants were killed last year.
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NAM_202_02_Etosha hotbed for rhino poaching_Namibian Sun.pdf | 402.47 KB |
Eastern Cape police have arrested two suspects for possession of abalone worth R1.8m in Gqeberha.
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SA_2023_02_Two suspects bust for possession of abalone worth R1.8m in Gqeberha_TimesLive.pdf | 297.41 KB |
The number of endangered rhinos poached in Namibia reached an all-time high last year after 87 animals were killed compared to 45 in 2021, official government data showed on Monday. The ministry of environment, forestry and tourism spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said poachers killed 61 black and 26 white rhinos mainly in Namibia's largest park, Etosha, where 46 rhinos were found dead.
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NAM_2023_01_Namibia rhino poaching surged 93 percent in 2022_Times Live.pdf | 228.55 KB |
A rhino poacher was killed while another was injured during a shootout between an antipoaching unit and three rhino poachers on Saturday on a private farm about 120 km east of Windhoek. The injured poacher was arrested, and the third accomplice, who initially fled the scene, was arrested on Monday morning. Owner of Namibia Wildlife Protection, Salmon Vermaak, whose anti-poaching unit (APU) is stationed on the farm, said the team leader informed him about 11:30 on Saturday that they had spotted a poacher tracking a rhino cow and her calf.
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NAM_2023_01_Poacher killed during skirmish with anti-poaching Unit_Namibian Sun.pdf | 334.26 KB |
A sea, air and mountain (Seam) special operations ranger was injured by a suspected poacher who was resisting arrest at the Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) in the early hours of Tuesday. About 11.30pm on Monday, the park's operations room staff received information about suspected poachers operating in the park’s marine protected area near Glencairn. "Seam operators responded and, with the assistance of the police, successfully stopped a vehicle suspected of being involved in the incident," South African National Parks said in a statement.
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SA_2023_01_Table Mountain ranger attacked as six alleged abalone poachers arrested_TimesLive.pdf | 257.11 KB |
Pongola Game Reserve East (PGRE) in KwaZulu-Natal will move about 69 elephants back onto its property to other protected areas to stem a bloody poaching war. Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife said they will engage the game reserve to relocate them as soon as protected areas with adequate carrying capacity for elephants have been identified. This was an attempt to resolve the long-standing human/wildlife conflict caused by elephants from the private game reserve and has contributed to the rise in elephant poaching incidents.
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SA_2023_01_Elephants to be relocated from KZN reserve to stem poaching slaughter_TimesLive.pdf | 397.14 KB |