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.
Interactive software that 'reads' and analyzes footprints left by black rhinoceroses can be used to monitor the movements of the animals in the wild, giving conservationists a new way to keep watch on the endangered species and help keep it safe from poachers, according to a new study.
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Nam_2020_09_New tracking technology will help fight rhino poaching in Namibia.PDF | 105.23 KB |
Drie Namibiese mans is verlede week in verband met renosterstropery en twee oor horingsmokkelary in hegtenis geneem.
Three Namibian men were arrested last week in connection with rhino poaching and two for rhino horn smuggling.
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NAM_2020-09_Renosterkarkas en horing gekonfiskeer_Republikein.pdf | 399.3 KB |
NAM_2020-09_ Rhino carcass and horn confiscated_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 224.07 KB |
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.
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NAM_2020-09_155 wildlife products seized_Namibian Sun.pdf | 294.98 KB |
Early in October, four ranger from Save the Rhino Trust (SRT) will show the rest of the world what it takes to be out in the wild, day in day out, tracking rhinos, deterring poachers, and earning an income for them and their families.
A mature female Temminck's pangolin was retrieved out of the illegal trade by the South African Police Service’s Endangered Species Unit on April 25 in the Alldays region of Limpopo Province. She was transported to a Polokwane veterinarian which is where the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital’s Dr Karin Lourens drove to assist with the stabilising and initial examination. During an abdominal ultrasound, it was discovered that Ally was pregnant!
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SA_2020-09_Rescued pangolin gives birth in Limpopo_Getaway.pdf | 542.81 KB |
Two armed poachers were shot dead at Chirisa Game Park in Gokwe over the weekend in a gun combat with Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) rangers. ZimParks is now using drones to patrol its vast estate, and so far this year, 800 poachers have been detected and more than 600 arrested by follow-up patrols.
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ZIM_2020-09_Two suspected poachers killed in raid_The Herald.pdf | 344.55 KB |
Notorious Congolese poacher Mobanza Mobembo Gérard, who is said to have poached some 500 elephants in the Republic of Congo, was last month sentenced to a 30-year jail term in an unprecedented wildlife crime conviction in that country.
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NAM_2020-09_Butcher poacher locked up for 30 years_The Namibian.pdf | 520.29 KB |
Two abalone smugglers were each sentenced to xve years in prison this week, just over two months after they were arrested in a joint police operation on the N1 near the Huguenot tunnel in the Western Cape in June.
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SA_2020-09_Abalone poachers surrender R100k in proceeds of crime after arrest_Sunday Times.pdf | 982.98 KB |
Two black rhinos - a cow and calf - were shot and killed in the Sesfontein area in Kunene with an unknown firearm. The animals were dehorned with an unknown sharp object. The incident occurred between 24 and 28 August at Otjomumbonde in the Omatendeka conservancy area.
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NAM_2020-09_2 black rhino killed for horns near Sesfontein_Africa Sustainable Conservation News.pdf | 89.74 KB |
Die Behörden ermitteln in einem Fall zweier gewilderter Spitzmaulnashörner, die in der Otjomumbonde-Gegend in dem Hegegebiet Omatendeka gefunden wurden. Das geht aus dem am Sonntag veröffentlichten Polizeibericht hervor.
The authorities are investigating a case of two poached black rhinos that were found in the Otjomumbonde area in the Omatendeka conservation area. This emerges from the police report published on Sunday.
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NAM_2020-09_Wilderer toeten zwei Nashoerner_Allgemeine Zeitung.pdf | 327.28 KB |
NAM_2020-09_Poachers kill two rhinos_Allgemeine Zeitung_Eng.pdf | 221.72 KB |
’n Zambiese man, mnr. Tumone Biemba, is verlede week op Katima Mulilo glo met een olifanttand en 81 ietermagôskubbe vasgetrek.
A Zambian man, mr. Tumone Biemba, was allegedly caught on Katima Mulilo last week with one elephant tooth and 81 pangolin scales.
Twee renosterkarkasse is gister in die Etendeka-toerismekonsessie in die Kunenestreek gevind.
Two rhino carcasses were found in the Etendeka tourism concession in the Kunene region yesterday.
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NAM_2020-08_Renosterkarkasse by Etendeka gevind_Republikein.pdf | 229.32 KB |
NAM_2020-08_Rhino carcasses found at Etendeka_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 228.99 KB |
89 ietermagôskubbe gekonfiskeer. Vier vermeende renosterstropers bly in aanhouding nadat hulle glo ’n witrenosterbul gestroop en ’n witrenosterkoei in die Grootfontein-distrik gekwes het.
89 pangolin scales confiscated. Four suspected rhino poachers remain in custody after they allegedly poached a white rhino bull and injured a white rhino cow in the Grootfontein district.
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NAM_2020-08_Renosterstropers bly in aanhouding_Republikein.pdf | 451.16 KB |
NAM_2020-08_Rhino poachers remain in custody_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 271.01 KB |
Vier mutmaßliche Nashornwilderer, die vergangene Woche in Grootfontein verhaftet wurden, bleiben vorerst in Untersuchungshaft. Die Tatverdächtigen, Dave Uatenguainja Ngumbi (35), Alfred Rukee Katupao (49), Lucas Hidinwa Kautpao (38) und Hengua Kaipi Ngange (40), sind zu Beginn der Woche im Magistratsgericht von Otjiwarongo erschienen. Bei dem Hafttermin wurde der Fall zwecks weiterer Untersuchungen auf den 24. November dieses Jahres vertagt.
Two villagers from Binga have been arrested in Zambia after they were found in possession of a live pangolin they allegedly intended to sell in the neighbouring country.
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ZIM_2020-08_2 Binga folks arrested for possessing live pangolin_The Chronicle.pdf | 377.37 KB |
Vier vermeende renosterstropers is verlede week by Grootfontein in hegtenis geneem nadat hulle glo ’n witrenosterbul gestroop en ’n witrenosterkoei gekwes het.
Four suspected rhino poachers were arrested at Grootfontein last week after they allegedly poached a white rhino bull and injured a white rhino cow.
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NAM_2020-08_Vier vas oor renosterstropery_Republikein.pdf | 340.36 KB |
NAM_2020-08_Four arrested for rhino poaching_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 240.21 KB |
Die Polizei hat vier mutmaßliche Wilderer verhaftet, die auf einer privaten Farm im Grootfontein-Distrikt Breitmaulnashörner gejagt und eines der Tiere erlegt haben sollen. Das berichtete die Polizeisprecherin der Otjozondjupa-Region, Inspector Maureen Mbeha, gestern in Otjiwarongo.
Police have arrested four suspected poachers who are believed to have hunted and killed white rhinos on a private farm in Grootfontein district. This was reported by the police spokeswoman for the Otjozondjupa region, Inspector Maureen Mbeha, yesterday in Otjiwarongo.
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NAM_2020-08_Nashorn tot Vier Personen in Haft_Allgemeine Zeitung.pdf | 330.82 KB |
NAM_2020-08_Rhino dead four people in custody_Allgemeine Zeitung_Eng.pdf | 232.59 KB |
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NAM_2020-08_Rhino poaching accused at Grootfontein remanded in custody_NBC.pdf | 323.75 KB |
A twenty-year-old Zambian man was arrested on Sunday in the Zambezi region after he was found in possession of one elephant tusk and 81 pangolin scales.
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NAM_2020-08_Zambian nabbed for ivory_pangolin scales_The Namibian.pdf | 716.9 KB |
Three carcasses of lions were recently recovered in the wildlife-rich Gonarezhou National Park, south-east of the Lowveld amid fears that poachers from Mozambique were using cyanide to poison animals.
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ZIM_2020-08_Poachers poison park lions_The Herald.pdf | 382.18 KB |
Rampant poaching activities in Matetsi area of Hwange District are threatening the viability of safari hunting industry, a leading safari operator has said. In an interview with Business Chronicle safari operator, Mr Wisdom Bushe Neshavi, said the upsurge in poaching case is crippling safari hunting, which is already reeling under the effects of the novel Covid-19) pandemic.
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ZIM_2020-08_Poachers threaten viability of safari hunting industry in Hwange_The Chronicle.pdf | 401.8 KB |
Four (4) suspects were arrested on 21 August 2020 after they illegally hunted a specially protected game (rhino). The suspects conspired and entered a private Farm to hunt rhinos, they shot and injured a female white Rhino and killed one male White Rhino. The horns were removed. The cow managed to escape with a gunshot wound. It survived.
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NAM_2020-08_4 arrested for rhino poaching_Eagle FM.pdf | 313.17 KB |
Large abalone consignment was kept under surveillance as it travelled from Cape Town to Johannesburg. Police have seized abalone worth an estimated R3-million at a home in the Johannesburg suburb of Mayfair and arrested a 46-year-old man.
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SA_2020-08_Police sting operation leads to abalone seizure and arrest_The South African.pdf | 402.45 KB |
The stricter lockdown of the last few months led to an unexpected consequence - a major decline in rhino poaching. South Africa, home to more than 80% of African rhinos that still exist in the world, is a hotspot for rhino poaching. The number of rhinos killed for their horns has been slowly declining over recent years, but the pandemic and lockdown quelled poaching even more, according to a report from the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries.
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SA_2020-08_Lockdown sees decline in rhino poaching-IOL.pdf | 74.17 KB |
Specialist state prosecutor Advocate Ansie Venter confirmed that the court remains closed, pending Mpumalanga regional court president Naomi Engelbrecht's petition to the Supreme Court of Appeal. The fate of the Skukuza Regional Court continues to teeter as the conservation community waits for the outcome of a petition for leave to appeal a court ruling earlier this year. The court is significant in fighting against rhino poaching, in its recent heyday boasting a 99.8% conviction rate, and 100% success rate in opposed bail…
Botswana has decided to re-arm its wildlife rangers as the southern African country battles increased cases of poaching. In the last six months, at least 17 poachers have been killed in gunfire exchanges with the army. The government had disarmed wildlife rangers in 2018, saying that under the law, only the military was allowed the use of firearms during anti-poaching patrols. With the country losing 56 rhinoceros to poachers in the last two years, the government is reconsidering that approach. Wildlife and Tourism …
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BOT_2020-08_Botswana Moves to Rearm Rangers as Rhino Poaching Intensifies _Voice of America_English.pdf | 952.87 KB |
Some conservationists and activists in South Africa are concerned that criminal syndicates are making it even more difficult to protect rhinos from poachers.
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.
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NAM_2020-08_Officials get teeth to identify trafficked ivory_Namibian Sun.pdf | 212.21 KB |
Vyf Namibiese mans is verlede week in verband met renosterstropery of horingsmokkelary of pogings daartoe in hegtenis geneem. Volgens die weeklikse wildmisdaadverslag vanaf 10 tot 16 Augustus van die Namibiese polisie en die ministerie van die omgewing, bosbou en toerisme, is mnre. Petrus Johannes en David Ruben verlede Donderdag by Okahao in hegtenis geneem.
The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has started using drones to detect poachers as part of improved and technology-based conservation strategies.
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ZIM_2020-08_Drones improve sniffing out poachers_The Herald.pdf | 288.17 KB |
'n Lewende ietermagô is Vrydagaand in 'n kamer van 'n 29-jarige man in die Wanaheda-woonbuurt in die hoofstad gevind.
A live pangolin was found in a room of a 29-year-old man in the Wanaheda neighborhood in the capital on Friday night.
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NAM_2020-08_Lewende ietermago in kamer gevind_Republikein.pdf | 240.4 KB |
NAM_2020-08_Livepangolin found in room_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 240.22 KB |
Considering the amount of effort and funds that go into arresting a suspected poacher, and seeing court proceedings through, cases such as this take a signicant toll on the people involved in seeking justice.
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The Citizen_2020-08_Light sentences for poachers take toll on anti_poaching rangers_The Citizen.pdf | 201.88 KB |
Zambia is exploring the possibility of domestically selling its US$100 million ivory stockpile.
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ZAM_2020-08_Zambia wants to sell US100m ivory_TheSouthernTimes.pdf | 331.59 KB |
Three men suspected to be part of a poaching syndicate that has been illegally hunting elephants for their ivory at the Hwange National Park and Binga district both in Matabeleland North have been arrested after being found in possession of ivory worth US$11 395. Enos Mudenda (35) of Mankonkole village under Chief Saba in Binga, Joseph Ngwenya (32) of Siantele village in Chief Shana area in Hwange and Mark Sibanda (38) of Bulawayo’s Mahatshula suburb appeared before Hwange magistrate Sekai Chiwundura to answer to a charge of illegal possession of elephant ivory.
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ZIM_2020-08_Three In Court After Found In Possession Of US11 395 Ivory_New Zimbabwe.pdf | 360.17 KB |
More than half of 363 suspects arrested for animal poaching or trafficking in 2020 were apprehended for crimes involving high-value animal species. This includes rhino, elephant and pangolin, according to the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism.
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NAM_2020-08_Elephant pangolin crimes still highest_The Namibian.pdf | 658.83 KB |
For two decades after Namibia's independence, the country experienced minimal commercial poaching. Over the past 10 years this has rapidly changed. Wildlife crime has skyrocketed and Namibia has rallied to counter the surge. A high of 97 poached rhinos estimated for 2015 has been reduced to 45 in 2019.
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NAM_2020-08_Rhino poaching_not just an environmental crime_The Namibian.pdf | 450.16 KB |
In Zimbabwe, where an estimated 85,000 elephants live, the fight to save vulnerable species isn’t just a full-time job-it's a lifeline. Among Zimbabwe's most dedicated anti-poachers are the Akashinga women, a radical all-female unit that patrols five former trophy hunting reserves for illegal activity. The highly-trained, quasi-military troop is an arm of the nonprofit International Anti-Poaching Foundation.
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ZIM_2020-08_Elephant poachers Zimbabwe_Journal of African Elephants.pdf | 2 MB |
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.
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NAM_2020-08_Python skins seized_Namibian Sun.pdf | 280.57 KB |
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BotswanaUnplugged_2020-08_Five countries unite against wildlife crime_BotswanaUnplugged.pdf | 1.99 MB |
The Save the Rhino Trust (SRT) has received a N$1.11 million donation from the Debmarine-Namdeb Foundation to develop innovative ways to nurture reading skills among the youth and protect rhinos in the Kunene Region. The funds will be utilised for the rhino rangers programme, which supports rangers from local communities, but also the Rhino Pride Campaign.
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NAM_2020-08_Training tomorrows rhino rangers_Namibian Sun.pdf | 378.33 KB |
Twee vermeende wildmisdadigers, mnr. Gabriel Kuutondokwa Nalitje en David Simon, is verlede Maandag in Windhoek glo met drie stukke ivoor en een elk luiperd- en ietermagôvel vasgetrek.
Two suspected wildlife criminals, Mr. Gabriel Kuutondokwa Nalitje and David Simon, were allegedly caught last Monday in Windhoek with three pieces of ivory and one each leopard and pangolin skin.
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NAM_2020-08_Twee met ivoor velle vasgetrek_Republikein.pdf | 223.19 KB |
NAM_2020-08_Two arrested with ivory_skins_republikein_Eng.pdf | 222.92 KB |
In just over a week, Ray Jansen and his team have recovered four trafficked pangolins - three of them pregnant - in sting operations from the illicit trade in various parts of South Africa. In total, 11 people were arrested by a team of dedicated and specialised law enforcement officers.The operations are a sign, says Jansen, of the African Pangolin Working Group, that pangolin poaching has resumed under Level 3 lockdown restrictions.
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SA_2020-08_Four pangolins rescued in a week from illegal trade_IOL.pdf | 456.93 KB |
Three Zimbabwean nationals were on Thursday remanded in custody after they were arrested by the the Hawks in Johannesburg while allegedly selling an elephant tusk.
Windhoek says intensified intelligence operations by authorities and tougher sentences for poachers led to the drop. Rhino poaching fell 63 percent year-on-year in Namibia, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism has said citing intensified intelligence operations by authorities and tougher sentences and fines for poachers. Elephant poaching, which occurs to a lesser extent, also decreased with two incidents reported this year compared with 13 in 2019, the ministry said.
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NAM_2020-08_ Rhino poaching falls by more than 60 percent_News_Al Jazeera.pdf | 191.34 KB |
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SA_2020-08_Elephant tusk South Africa_Journal of African Elephants.pdf | 100.49 KB |
Polizeieinsatz mit US-Strafverfolgungsbehörden führt zum Erfolg. Vier mutmaßliche Schuppentier-Schmuggler konnten während eines Einsatzes zwischen US-Strafverfolgungsbehörden und der namibischen Polizei vor kurzem gestellt werden - es wird die erste Kooperation ihrer Art bezeichnet. Zudem wurden erneut mutmaßliche Wilderer bei Walvis Bay verhaftet.
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NAM_2020-08_Pangolin_Schmuggler gestellt_Allgemeine Zeitung.pdf | 448.78 KB |
NAM_2020-08_Pangolin smugglers charged_Allgemeine Zeitung_Eng.pdf | 342.87 KB |
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.
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NAM_2020-08_Pangolin traffickers nabbed_Namibian Sun.pdf | 379.08 KB |
An Angolan accused of dealing in rhino horns lost his appeal against a ruling by a Windhoek magistrate that deprived him of bail when High Court Judge Christi Liebenberg upheld the initial decision by the magistrate. According to Liebenberg, the High Court has no jurisdiction to interfere in a magistrate court matter if the presiding officer is convinced the magistrate was correct in his ruling.
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NAM_2020-08_Rhino horns dealer loses bail appeal_New Era.pdf | 305.47 KB |
Rhino poaching fell 63% year-on-year in Namibia, the ministry of environment said on Friday, citing intensified intelligence operations by authorities and tougher sentences and fines for poachers.
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NAM_2020-08_Rhino poaching in Namibia down 63 percent on tougher policing penalties_Reuters.pdf | 358.49 KB |
Samewerking tussen Amerikaanse wetstoepassers en die Namibiese polisie (Nampol) het gelei tot die inhegtenisneming van vier vermeende ietermagôsmokkelaars.
Cooperation between US law enforcers and the Namibian police (Nampol) has led to the arrest of four suspected pangolin smugglers.