Search results

The police confiscated 110 pangolin scales when they arrested two men at Outapi on 7 March. The two Namibians, Nikodemus Kotekeni Hafeni Nicodemus and Simon Akwenye, were also found in the possession of one pangolin skin.

A clerk at St George's College in Harare appeared in court after he was arrested in the capital’s suburb of Budiriro, while attempting to trade raw ivory worth US$2 099.

Six suspects were arrested in connection with wildlife crimes and five new cases were registered recently, while five wildlife products were seized. Two suspects were arrested for rhino poaching or trafficking. Another suspect was arrested for elephant poaching or trafficking. This is according to information provided by the intelligence and investigation unit within the ministry of environment and tourism and the protection resources division within the safety and security ministry. On 28 February, Muronga Hamutima was arrested at Rundu for being in possession of a pangolin skin…

A total of 17 suspects were arrested in connection with wildlife crimes and nine new cases were registered last month, while 21 wildlife products were seized. This is according to information provided by the intelligence and investigation unit within the environment ministry and the protected resources division within the safety and security ministry. Wildlife products confiscated included three pangolin skins, two live pangolins, two elephant tusks, four elephant tusk pieces, two hippo teeth, five lechwe carcasses and a giraffe carcass.

The environment ministry has confirmed that thus far no ministry staff have been linked to rhino poaching cases in Namibia, while rhino poaching has declined in national parks over the years. Ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said confiscated rifles from staff in the Etosha National Park and ballistic tests conducted is an investigation with the police and, so far, no staff member has been linked to any poaching case. "Should there be any such case, we will take action including criminal charges against that staff member."

According to statistics, 371 wildlife crime cases were finalised with convictions in court during the five-year period and 565 suspects were found guilty, while 63 suspects were acquitted on charges. A total of 2 950 suspects was arrested in the 1 326 wildlife crime cases reported in the past five years, of which 579 cases related to high-value species. This is according to wildlife crime summary statistics for the period 1 January 2015 until to 3 December 2020, provided in the revised National Strategy on Wildlife Protection and Law Enforcement.

Despite more than 1 000 court hearings dealing with wildlife crimes taking place last year, environment minister said they continue to reverse the trends of poaching, with fewer cases recorded in the country.

It reveals how some offenders identified the Zambezi Region, which lies within the Kavango-Zambezi Trans-Frontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA), as the local hub for trading of wildlife products. Kongola, Rundu, and Windhoek were also implicated as local locations for transit or sale of wildlife products, while Bwabwata, Mudumu, Nkasa Rupara, and Etosha National Parks were identified as the sources for elephant, lion, and rhino products.

A suspected rhino poacher has been arrested at Grootfontein, while a Windhoek man has been sentenced to an effective four years in jail for selling pangolin skins or a N$40 000 fine.

There has been a continued downward trend in elephant poaching in parts of Africa, data shows. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) programme for Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) has published its annual report analysing trends regarding illegally killed elephants in Africa, based on data collected by MIKE sites on the continent. Namibia boasts two of these sites - in the Etosha National Park and in the Zambezi Region.

At Opuwo, two Namibians were arrested on 13 October for being in possession of a pangolin. At Grootfontein, a Namibian, Raimo Kakongo, was arrested on 11 October on a charge of conspiring to poach a rhino. The case dates back to August this year. He has been charged with contravening the Riotous Assemblies Act. At Opuwo, two Namibians were arrested on 13 October for being in possession of a pangolin. Uaninazo Muheke and Mavetumbuavi Mutambo were charged with contravening the Controlled Wildlife Products and Trade Act.

Pangolins are the most poached and trafficked animal species in Namibia, crime statistics show. A total of 174 wildlife crime cases involving high-value species were registered last year and more than 360 suspects were arrested. According to the 2019/2020 annual progress report of the environment ministry, 92 of these cases related to pangolin, 54 related to elephants, 32 related to rhinos and 17 to conspiracy to poach rhinos.

Fourteen suspects have been arrested in connection with wildlife crimes and seven new cases have been registered. Three of the suspects were arrested in connection with rhino poaching or trafficking. According to the information provided by the intelligence and investigation unit within the environment and tourism ministry and the protected resources unit within the safety and security ministry, 11 illegal wildlife products were seized.

Six suspects have been arrested in connection with wildlife crimes and two new cases were registered last week. Three of the suspects were arrested for elephant poaching and one suspect was arrested for rhino poaching. According to information provided by the intelligence and investigation unit in the environment ministry and the protected resources unit in the safety and security ministry, three illegal wildlife products were confiscated. At Mukwe in the Kavango East Region, three Namibians were arrested on 22 September for being in possession of two elephant tusks.

More than 150 illegal wildlife products were seized last week and 10 suspects were arrested, while six new cases were registered. Five of the suspects were arrested in connection with rhino poaching or trafficking cases.

A comprehensive new guide has been published to assist law enforcement agencies to identify trafficked ivory. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites) secretariat, TRAFFIC and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) have published the Identification Guide for Ivory and Ivory Substitutes. It is a comprehensive and accessible resource for identifying the most commonly found ivories and artificial substitutes used for trade.

Six suspects were arrested in connection with wildlife crimes and three new cases were opened recently, while seized products included python, leopard and pangolin skins.

In the first cooperation between US law enforcement and the Namibian police, four suspected pangolin traffickers were recently arrested in Namibia. According to a statement by the US embassy in Namibia, time-sensitive information was received by the Homeland Security Investigations office in Pretoria relating to the imminent illegal sale of a live pangolin.

The Game Product Trust Fund (GPTF) has become increasingly important in protecting wildlife due to a lack of funding from government. The GPTF has committed funding of more than N$5.58 million to several activities in the environment and tourism sector during the 2018/19 financial year. This information is contained in the Environmental Investment Fund (EIF) of Namibia 2018/19 annual report that has just been made public. "The GPTF's role has become more important than ever. It has stepped in and filled the void that has been left by a lack of funding from the government.

Eight suspects were arrested last week in connection with wildlife crimes. These suspects were arrested in three separate cases and a total of five illegal wildlife products were seized, which included a lion skin, three leopard skins and a live pangolin.

Thirteen suspects have been arrested for wildlife crimes and six new cases were opened within the past two weeks. A total of 19 illegal wildlife products were confiscated in these crimes, according to information provided by the intelligence and investigation unit within the environment ministry and the protected resource division within the safety and security ministry. Five vehicles were also seized.

Intelligence Support Against Poaching (ISAP) recently held a course on how to handle a poaching scene correctly. The animal crime scene and evidence handling course took place from 16 to 19 July, and was presented by Wildlife Vets Namibia. Participants included veterinarians, lodge managers, wildlife farmers, members of crime prevention forums, hunting farm owners, students and representatives of the tourism industry.

Ten suspects were arrested recently in connection with wildlife crimes and four new cases have been registered. Seven of the suspects were arrested for elephant poaching or trafficking cases, while another suspect was arrested in connection with a rhino poaching case.

“The Mexico case showed a discrepancy between the exporter and importer data – Namibia registered an export of nine elephants while Mexico claimed it received 18. Interestingly, the exports were conducted under an Appendix I listing, even though elephants in Namibia are listed in Appendix II.” It was pointed out in the report that the annotation for the Appendix II listing specifies that trade in live elephants from Namibia is strictly for “in situ conservation programmes”, meaning no live elephants may be exported beyond their natural range.

Annual illicit income generated from ivory and rhino horn trafficking between 2016 and 2018 was estimated at US$400 million and US$230 million respectively. The illegal global trade in ivory and rhino horn has declined, while trafficking of pangolins has soared, according to a United Nations report based on four years of data.

Two new cases of wildlife crime were reported last week and three suspects were arrested, while two men found guilty of the illegal possession of a live pangolin were fined N$20 000 or 48 months in prison. Four illegal wildlife products were also seized, which included one elephant tail and three live tortoises.

Four new dogs will be imported from the Netherlands to beef up the environment ministry's anti-poaching dog unit, which has helped arrest suspects in 52 poaching cases so far. The four dogs at Waterberg are trained to search buildings, vehicles, luggage and open areas for firearms, ammunition and illegal wildlife products such as ivory, rhino horn, pangolin scales and bush meat.

Namibia is experiencing a reduction in wildlife poaching incidents, while more arrests have been recorded. This is according to environment minister Pohamba Shifeta, who gave a breakdown of rhino, elephant and pangolin poaching incidents and arrests dating back to 2018. This year, 17 rhinos have been poached, compared to 46 last year and 78 in 2018. A total of 89 suspects has been arrested for rhino poaching cases this year, compared to 175 last year and 109 in 2018. Shifeta said 15 rhino horns have been seized this year, compared to eight last year and 16 in 2018.

Nine suspects were arrested in connection with wildlife crimes and four new cases were registered last week. Four of the suspects were arrested in connection with rhino poaching or trafficking, while one suspect was arrested and charged with elephant poaching. This is according to the latest statistics provided by the intelligence and investigation unit in the environment ministry and the protected resource division within the safety and security ministry. A total of seven wildlife products were seized, which included a rhino horn, five elephant tusks and a…

In its first global report on the illegal wildlife trade, the Financial Action Task Force (FAFT) has described it as a global threat with links to other organised crimes such as slavery, drug trafficking and the arms trade. The report expressed concern over the lack of focus on the financial aspects of wildlife crime and suggested that all member governments should apply money-laundering laws. The findings of the study are based on inputs from countries in 50 jurisdictions, including Namibia, which is a member of the Eastern and Southern Africa Anti-Money Laundering…

A total of five wildlife products were seized: two oryx carcasses, a pangolin skin and two aardvark carcasses.

A rhino horn, two elephant tusks, a pangolin skin and a crocodile skin were seized by the police last week. Thirteen suspects were arrested in connection with rhino poaching or trafficking and two for elephant poaching or trafficking. Five wildlife products were seized: a rhino horn, two elephant tusks, a pangolin skin and a crocodile skin.

Ten wildlife products were seized, which included six rhino horns, two elephant tusks and two giraffe carcasses. A total of seven new wildlife crimes were reported recently, while 16 suspects were arrested. Eleven of the suspects were arrested in connection with rhino poaching and/or trafficking cases, while two others were arrested for elephant poaching and/or trafficking.

Two elephants have been killed within a week of each other. One of the animals was killed during an illegal hunt, while the other was killed to address human-wildlife-conflict. It is suspected that an elephant found dead at a farm in the Ndonga Linena constituency in Kavango East last week was first shot somewhere else. The carcass of the elephant was discovered last Tuesday at Farm Nanava, approximately 90km southeast of Rundu.

Eight wildlife products were seized, which included six elephant tusks and two leopard skins. Six suspects were arrested and charged for wildlife crimes recently, while three new cases were registered. Two of the suspects were arrested for rhino poaching and/or trafficking cases while two others were arrested for elephant poaching and/or trafficking cases.

Sixteen suspects have been arrested in recent days in connection with wildlife crimes and six new cases were registered. According to police statistics ten wildlife products were confiscated, and five firearms and one vehicle were seized. The wildlife products included four pieces of elephant ivory, a pangolin skin, two duiker carcasses, an impala carcass and a warthog carcass. On 5 March two Zambians, an Angolan and a Namibian were arrested at Kongola for illegally hunting protected game.

A Namibian man was arrested last week at Rundu for being in possession of 611 pangolin scales, five pieces of skin and one whole pangolin skin. A total of nine suspects were arrested in connection with wildlife crimes last week and three new cases were registered.

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.

At least 82 people were arrested last year alone and police recovered 17 pangolins and over 1 000 kilogrammes of pangolin scales, as the Zimbabwe Republic Police declares war on wildlife crimes countrywide.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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…

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).

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.

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.

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…

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…

Police are clamping down on poachers, with two police busts leading to the arrest of an alleged poaching gang found in possession of rhino horns and another man attempting to smuggle ten elephant tusks. Police at the Divundu police checkpoint arrested two men driving a white BMW in the early hours of Thursday morning after they were found in possession of three rhino horns. They were identified as Liebelo Erick Manja (31) and Aldrian Masule Musisanyani (41), and both were charged with possession of controlled wildlife products.