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.
Traditional leaders in Kariba district have condemned wildlife poaching in the area, adding that the crime was detrimental to the development of tourism in the district. Kariba's tourism is anchored on wildlife, hence the need for conservation, but despite a significant drop in elephant poaching, the practice was rampant among other smaller animals.
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ZIM_2023_11_Traditional leaders condemn poaching_NewsDay.pdf | 200.18 KB |
Tawanda Kakora of Nyamaropa Village in Mt Darwin will spend the next nine years in jail afer he was arrested while trying to sell a live pangolin. Kakora (34) of Nyamaradzo Village under Chief Nembire was sentenced to a mandatory nine-year jail term afer being convicted on charges of possession or selling a live pangolin. In passing sentence, Bindura magistrate Mrs Nomgugu Sibanda said there were no special circumstances warranting the court to be lenient. The prosecutor, Mr Carson Kundiona proved that on September 30, detectives from…
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ZIM_2023_11_Mt darwin man caged 9 years for pangolin_The Herald.pdf | 306.39 KB |
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ZIM_2023_10_Cop in trouble over USS 15K pangolin skins_The Herald.pdf | 179.34 KB |
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ZIM_2023_10_Live pangolin lands Mt Darwin man in trouble_The Herald.pdf | 213.44 KB |
The courts have intensified the fight to combat breaches of wildlife laws with the Harare Magistrates Court dedicating Court 5 to deal with such issues, acting Deputy Prosecutor General Mr Michael Reza said yesterday. He told the Zimbabwe Animal Law conference in Harare yesterday that since the beginning of the year, nine cases have been completed while 12 new cases have been recorded. From January 2020 to date, 45 cases involving breaches of the parks and wildlife law have been prosecuted at the Harare Magistrates Court, and Mr …
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ZIM_2023_09_Court intensify fight aganst wildlife crimes_The Herald.pdf | 233.14 KB |
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 suspected poachers have been arrested in separate incidents in Bulawayo and Victoria Falls with the police recovering four ivory tusks and 10,5kg of kudu meat. The arrest comes afer the police declared war on poaching syndicates countrywide. In a statement, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrests.
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ZIM_2023_07_Six suspected poachers arrested in Bulawayo and Vic falls_The Herald.pdf | 188.77 KB |
Two suspected poachers believed to be part of a syndicate involved in wildlife crimes have been arrested in Chiredzi and police recovered pangolin scales, lion teeth and hyena teeth.
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ZIM_2023_06_Suspected poachers remanded in custody_The Herald.pdf | 275.08 KB |
Two suspected poachers who were selling four ivory tusks have appeared in court.
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ZIM_2023_06_Suspected ivory poachers in court_The Herald.pdf | 714.45 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 |
A 34-year-old Harare man has appeared before magistrate Dennis Mangosi charged with illegal possession of ivory. Author Edwin Kowe of Stone Ridge, was arrested on February 19, 2023 after being trapped by detectives from the Police Minerals Flora and Fauna Section who posed as potential buyers. One of the detectives pretended to be an ivory buyer, while the other team carried out surveillance as backup. The detective who was acting as the buyer phoned the accused person and lured him to Waterworks along Chiremba Road.
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ZIM_2023_02_Ivory dealer nabbed in police trap_NewsDay.pdf | 183.96 KB |
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ZIM_2023_02_Five arrested for possession of ivory_The Herald.pdf | 370.26 KB |
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ZIM_2023_02_30 poachers arrested_15 guns recovered in Kariba_The Herald.pdf | 566.81 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 |
A Chinese national Wang Yang and his three local accomplices including a police officer stationed in Harare appeared in court on Wednesday charged with illegal possession of rhino horns worth US$600 000.
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ZIM_2023_01_Chinese national 3 accomplices in court over rhino horns_NewsDay.pdf | 346.34 KB |
A South African immigrant Brent Johan Lunt was yesterday acquitted on charges involving possession of
four rhino horns worth US$240 000 without a licence after the High Court found merit in his application for
review of the trial court proceedings that put him on his defence even though the horns had not been proved
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SA_SA man cleared of rhino horn possession charges_The Herald.pdf | 90.94 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 |
Two Mutoko men have been jailed nine years each for illegal possession of a pangolin.
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ZIM_2022_09_2 Mutoko men jailed over pangolin_NewsDay.pdf | 329.92 KB |
South Africa has experienced an increase in rhino poaching following a lull during the Covid-19 lockdown. Earlier this month, the country's Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment reported that 259 rhinos had been poached during the first half of 2022. This is a four percent increase in the number of animals killed during the same period last year. Rhino poaching incidents appear to be moving away from South Africa's national parks and into private wildlife conservancies where roughly 40 percent of the country's rhinos are found.
In Victoria Falls, police have arrested Listed Munkuli (35), Kudakwashe Ndlovu (31), Darlington Moyo (35) and Simon Nyoni (45) for unlawful possession of ivory at Mhizha Turn-off in the Matsetsi area. Two elephant tasks totalling 4,28kg, 15 lion claws and four lion teeth were recovered from the suspects. In another case, police and Zimbabwe National Parks Management Authority rangers, acting on a tip-off, arrested Evidence Moyo (22) for poaching. The suspect trapped and killed a male buffalo in the bush near the Victoria Falls dump site.
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ZIM_2022_08_Robber poachers arrested_The Herald.pdf | 230.53 KB |
Two men from Zvishavane and their friend from Goromonzi appeared in court yesterday on allegations of illegally possessing four pieces of raw Ivory worth US$6 426 they intended to trade in Harare.
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ZIM_2022_08_Trio intercepted with four pieces of ivory_The Herald.pdf | 783.95 KB |
Three men travelling through Kadoma will rue the day they caged a pangolin after they were caught in possession of the mammal on Saturday.
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ZIM_2022_05_Three men arrested for pangolin poaching_NewsDay.pdf | 431.99 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 |
Another man has been arrested for illegal ivory dealing, being found trying to sell 21 pieces of ivory from his house in Gutu.
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ZIM_2022_05_Ivory poacher arrested in Gutu_The Herald.pdf | 244 KB |
A 59-year-old Masvingo farmer yesterday appeared in court after he was found in possession of 52 crocodile skins worth US$78 000, without a licence.
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ZIM_2022_04_Farmer appears in court for crocodile skin possession_The Herald.pdf | 284.42 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 suspected poacher was shot and killed at Malilangwe Conservancy Trust in Chiredzi during a gunfight with game scouts on Saturday and while his two accomplices escaped the scouts did recover a rifle and ammunition.
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ZIM_2022_03_Suspected poacher shot dead_The Herald.pdf | 442.17 KB |
There is an urgent need to step up the fight against wildlife crime and human-induced reduction of species, which have wide-ranging economic, environmental and social impacts in the country, Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndhlovu says.
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ZIM_2022_03_Step up fight against wildlife crime_The Herald.pdf | 291.82 KB |
The Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association (Zela) has called on key stakeholders, including the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), to collaborate in combating illegal trade and smuggling of wildlife products. The call coincided with the World Wildlife Day commemorations held yesterday. Wildlife trafficking in Africa is mainly rife in politically unstable countries and where there is widespread breakdown of law and order.
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ZIM_2022_03_Need for collaborative efforts in combating illicit wildlife trade_Activists_NewsDay.pdf | 529.42 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 |
Poaching syndicates have killed at least two rhinoceros this month and are suspected of moving around the country targeting the animals and cutting off their horns. The rhino is targeted for its horn in the underground, illegal wildlife markets, particularly in Asia, where dubious cultural beliefs drive demand. In the latest killing, police in Bikita discovered on Sunday a carcass of a white rhino buried in a pit in a bushy area with some body parts missing
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ZIM_2022_02_Police tail poaching syndicates_The Herald.pdf | 667.4 KB |
Zimbabwe has partnered four other states in the Kavango Zambezi (KAZA) Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA) in an agreement which will see them joining forces to combat wildlife crime. The four states that will work with Zimbabwe to defend their borders against wildlife threats are Angola, Botswana, Namibia and Zambia.
The courts never cease to disappoint. Two years ago, the Supreme Court delivered a retrogressive judgment on pangolin conservation. A few days ago, the High Court delivered a bombshell on a rhino-related case. The court acquitted a man who was found in possession of four rhino horns in Harare.
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ZIM_2022_02_A sad day for rhino conservation in Zim_NewsDay.pdf | 310.39 KB |
There has been a great improvement in the handling of wildlife crimes in the country's courts of law following an accelerated mentorship drive for prosecutors and magistrates on the subject, a wildlife rights proponent has said.
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ZIM_2022_02_Zimbabwe records progress against wildlife crimes_The Herald.pdf | 595.7 KB |
A nurse aide at Siyakobvu Hospital in Kariba was today fined $20 000 for possessing a leopard skin worth $2 308 400, which he was selling in Harare's Central Business District.
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ZIM_2022_02_Nurse aide fined for possession of leopard skin_The Herald.pdf | 304.27 KB |
A South African immigrant and a local man found in possession of four pieces of rhino horns worth US$240 000 without a licence have been acquitted after the High Court found that the prosecution failed to prove its case against them.
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ZIM_2022_02_Two acquitted after being nabbed with rhino horns pieces_The Herald.pdf | 443.79 KB |
A nurse aide at Siyakobvu Hospital in Kariba appeared at the Harare Magistrates Court on allegations of possessing a leopard skin worth $2 308 400, which he was selling in Harare's Central Business District.
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ZIM_2022_02_Nurse aide nabbed with leopard skin_The Herald.pdf | 455.25 KB |
Two Bulawayo men have been slapped with a nine-year jail term each for illegal possession of pangolin skins.
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ZIM_2022_01_Pangolin skins land pair in jail_Newsday.pdf | 351.88 KB |
Three youths had a running battle with three policemen who attempted to arrest them for poaching, Bulawayo Regional Court was told yesterday.
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ZIM_2022_01_Poachers in gun battle with police at farm_The Herald.pdf | 553.58 KB |
Police in Chiredzi have arrested four suspected poachers and recovered five impala carcasses worth over
US$5 000 as they intensify their crackdown on poachers countrywide.
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ZIM_2022_01_4 more arrested in crackdown on poaching_The Herald.pdf | 417.03 KB |
Police in Mashonaland East Province have arrested three suspects for poaching in Eldorado farm in Macheke.
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ZIM_2022_01_Treetop Security official arrested for poaching_The Herald.pdf | 304.98 KB |
Two men appeared in court today on allegations of illegally possessing elephant tusks worth US$2 497 they intended to trade in Harare's city centre. Nkululeko Chuma (40) and Tawenga Dandambira (40) appeared before Harare magistrate Mrs Tafadzwa Miti charged with unlawful possession of unmarked raw ivory.
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ZIM_2021_11_Duo in court over ivory_The Herald.pdf | 348.65 KB |
Two men have been arrested in Bulawayo after they were found in possession of 18,25kg of ivory worth thousands of dollars.
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ZIM_2021_10_Two nabbed for illegally possessing ivory_The Herald.pdf | 439.62 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 |
A Harare man who, resides at the Presidential Guard Brigade, appeared at the Harare Magistrates Court charged with unlawful possession of a live pangolin.
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SA_2021_08_Man in court for possession of pangolin_News day.pdf | 210.44 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.
A plot by a jealous Guruve man to get his ex-wife and her boyfriend imprisoned by planting ivory on her hit a snag after he was arrested for possession of ivory.
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ZIM_2021_07_Jealous man plants ivory in ex_wifes toilet_News Day.pdf | 161.36 KB |
Two unemployed Harare men appeared in court last week for illegal possession of ivory.
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ZIM_2021_07_2 nabbed for illegal possession of ivory_NewsDay.pdf | 346.58 KB |