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United States (US) ambassador to Namibia John Giodarno hosted a discussion to combat wildlife trafficking in Windhoek on 24 February. The meeting brought together Namibian conservation leaders and US government officials to discuss progress in arrests and convictions, regional coordination efforts and investigative capacity building when it comes to wildlife crimes. "As a former United States attorney, I have seen first-hand how criminal networks try to exploit gaps in enforcement and governance.

Free State, South Africa (03 March 2026) - Behind every online advert for a wild tortoise is a creature stolen from its natural habitat - ripped from the very environment it depends on to survive. This growing wildlife injustice is one that the Wildlife Crime Information Network tirelessly fights to curb. Every day, the team receives reports of tortoises and other wildlife illegally removed from the wild to be kept as pets. These animals are often deprived of water, food, and freedom, or are exploited for food and traditional medicine (muti).

The Mpumalanga government is stepping up its fight against rhino poaching with stronger measures and extra support, after the province saw a sharp rise in the number of rhinos killed last year. This new push comes as conservationists and local communities grow more worried about the future of these iconic animals. The increase in poaching has hit hard, especially in areas close to Kruger National Park, and officials say they are now working harder than ever to protect the province’s rhinos and the tourism jobs that depend on them.

Maputo - Gorongosa National Park (PNG), in the central Mozambican province of Sofala, has recovered 160 pangolins from trafficking routes over the last eight years. The pangolin (sometimes known as the scaly anteater) is one of the species most under threat from poaching in Mozambique. Pangolins have the unique characteristic of being the only terrestrial mammals entirely covered in scales, and their existence is becoming increasingly rare.

Just as many expected a retreat from wildlife reform, Mpumalanga has taken the opposite step - moving to shut down captive lion breeding and jolting an industry that believed the political winds were turning in its favour. In a move that has surprised many observers of South Africa's wildlife politics, the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) has announced that it is phasing out captive lion facilities in the province - importantly aligning itself squarely with national plans that have been rolling forward in fits and starts since 2018.

The tourism-funded Okamutenge project supports anti-poaching patrols across five communal conservancies in the Kunene. After good rains ended a prolonged drought, wildlife populations are rebounding, increasing both hope and poaching risk. A loaned Land Cruiser and basic equipment enabled game guards to resume regular patrols across 13,000km² of remote terrain. Patrols unite multiple conservancies and Namibia's Ministry of Environment, reinforcing coordinated community conservation.

The hippo population along the Kavango River near Shamvura Camp has reportedly collapsed from 187 animals to just 22 in two years, raising alarm over what lodge owner and conservationist Mark Paxton describes as a relentless surge in poaching. Paxton, who has conducted formal wildlife counts along the river for decades, submits his results to Wetlands International, a global non-profit organisation dedicated to the conservation and restoration of wetlands. His records show a sharp decline of the local hippo population. "In one year we dropped from 187 to 47.

A controversial Vietnamese national was arrested trying to flee South Africa while on wildlife trafficking charges. Huy Bao Tran is linked to the 'staged' theft of 98 rhino horns and a vast global syndicate.

Tulani Ngwenya investigates how US dollars and hi-tech security have turned South Africa's game parks into a fortress frontier on the operations room monitors, a Black Mamba ranger works with a software platform that tracks and manages activity across the reserves in real time.

A joint operation by the Special Wildlife Crime Unit and the Uganda Police Force has led to the arrest of a suspected ivory trafficker and the recovery of 154 kilograms of raw elephant ivory in Northern Uganda. The suspect, Francis Opiro, was apprehended on February 22, 2026, in Nwoya District while in possession of ten pieces of raw elephant tusks. Authorities confirmed that he will be arraigned before the Standards, Utilities and Wildlife Court to face charges of unlawful possession of protected wildlife specimens, contrary to the Uganda Wildlife Act Cap 315.

Gondwana Collection Namibia and ERP Conservation Foundation recently completed an intensive anti-poaching training programme to bolster security ahead of the new Black Rhino Sanctuary’s opening. The specialised training brought together a group of in-house rangers and trainees, equipping them with advanced skills required to protect one of Africa's most endangered species.

A new global report reveals that over half a million pangolins were seized between 2016 and 2024, highlighting urgent conservation needs despite intensified Namibian protection. The report, 'Conservation Status, Trade and Enforcement Efforts for Pangolins', released at the end of last year, provides the most up-to-date review of pangolin conservation status and legal and illegal trade.

The Ministry of Tourism has warned members of the public against engaging in the illegal trade of pangolins and their products following a continued rise in related arrests. In a press statement issued to the media by Ministry of Tourism Principle Public Relations Officer Nelly Banda, through the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW), revealed that 154 pangolin-related arrests were recorded between January 2024 and December 2025.

Vulture safe zones have multiplied across Southern Africa to address the numerous threats facing these scavengers. The vulture safe zone concept originated in Asia as a response to the drastic decline in the region's vulture populations due to diclofenac poisoning. Opinions are mixed on their effectiveness to address the multitude of threats facing species in Africa.

The traffickers was arrested at the border town of Kipushi, between DRC and Zambia and 30kg of elephant ivory seized. This weight of ivory has been put out of the black market of wildlife thanks to the collaboration between ICCN (Institut National pour la conservation de la nature), supported by technically and financially by Conserv Congo, a local Non profit , part of the civil society, the magistrate court of Kipushi and the judicial police.

The EMS Foundation today releases its latest investigative report, Rhinos on a Knife Edge (No.3 in the Where Have All the Rhinos Gone? series), warning that South Africa's remaining rhino population is caught in a dangerous convergence of policy uncertainty, organised crime, corruption, and renewed pressure to legalise international rhino horn trade. The report reveals that approximately 2,300–2,500 rhinos remain in South Africa's state-owned national parks, with just 2,000 rhinos left in the Kruger National Park - once considered the stronghold of the species.

South Africa has reported a significant victory against rhino poaching in 2025, with national figures reflecting a 16% decline. Leading the charge is KwaZulu-Natal, where poaching losses at Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park (HiP) dwindled by 68%. Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife (Ezemvelo) welcomed the encouraging 2025 national rhino poaching statistics, crediting Minister Willie Aucamp’s statement on anti-poaching progress. Rhino losses in the HiP notably dropped by 68% (from 198 in 2024 to 63 in 2025), reflecting a province-wide decrease from 232 to 97 total losses.

Three suspects are expected to appear in the Bloemfontein Magistrate's Court in the Free State on charges of possession of endangered species The suspects, aged 31, 35, and 36, are from Kuruman. The provincial police spokesperson, Sergeant Sinah Mpakane, said the suspects were arrested on Tuesday, February 10.

Despite a modest 16% decline in rhino killings countrywide during 2025, the number of these animals poached in Kruger National Park has doubled compared with the previous year. Significantly, the dramatic surge in rhino poaching in Kruger was mirrored by an equally significant drop in killing rates in the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park in KwaZulu-Natal, which has been a poaching hotspot for several years.

Accused rhino poacher and former regional ranger Rodney Landela - once heralded as the "Crown Prince of the Kruger" - insists he was framed. The former Kruger regional ranger, tipped for a top post at the national park before his arrest, has testified that a wildlife observation mission went disastrously wrong in the Kingfisherspruit section of the Kruger National Park on 27 July 2016. Landela, alongside former state veterinary technician Kenneth Muchocho are accused of killing a white rhino early that morning.

South Africa's anti-poaching and anti-trafficking efforts have yielded a 16% overall decline in rhino poaching last year when compared to 2024. This is according to the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Willie Aucamp, who attributes the decline to dedication and tactical, swift coordination. "From January to December 2025, 352 rhinos were poached in South Africa, with 266 being killed on State property and 86 on privately owned parks, reserves or farms. This was a decrease of 68 in comparison to 420 rhinos poached in 2024," the Minister said on Tuesday in a…

Thai wildlife authorities have arrested a Vietnamese man at Suvarnabhumi Airport and seized 11.75 kilograms of rhino horn, disrupting a transnational wildlife trafficking operation that used Thailand as a transit point en route to Laos. Sadudee Phanphakdee, director of the Office of Wildlife and Plant Protection under the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, said the arrest followed joint operations with C.I.Q. agencies and the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division police to curb cross-border wildlife trafficking.

The Game Rangers Association of Africa is calling on governments, funders and conservation groups to lend more support to wildlife rangers across the continent following an increasing number of attacks involving armed militia groups. Game rangers in many parts of Africa say they are facing some of the most challenging times in decades, partly due to the increasing presence of armed militias, along with illegal miners, loggers and bushmeat hunters.

On 03 February 2026, SANParks received information regarding the presence of approximately 20 suspected abalone poachers operating within the Tsitsikamma Marine Protected Area along the Otter Trail. SANParks Rangers responded through various operations from 03 to 05 February 2026. On 03 February 2026 fresh abalone shells were found, which confirmed that illegal harvesting had taken place. On 05 February 2026 teams tracked the suspects to an area where they had been residing in Covie. The suspects attempted to flee when approached.

A suspected poacher was fatally wounded and a high-calibre rifle recovered during two separate anti-poaching incidents involving rangers in the Kruger National Park this week. SANParks Head of Communications and spokesperson JP Louw said the incidents underscored the risks faced by rangers in their fight against wildlife crime.

The Ministry of Environment and Tourism is facing a funding shortfall of approximately N$165 million, raising concerns about the sustainability of conservation. The funding constraints are outlined in the parliamentary standing committee on natural resources' final report on a capacity-building workshop with stakeholders held at Swakopmund, which was tabled before the eighth National Assembly. For the 2025/26 financial year, the ministry has been allocated a total budget of N$797 million.

In a relentless fight against illicit wildlife crime including rhino poaching, South African National Parks (SANParks) confirms two recent anti-poaching incidents in the Kruger National Park, underscoring the bravery of our rangers. Rangers came into contact with suspected poachers. on Thursday, 5 February 2026 at the Malelane section of the park, while no arrests were made, a high-caliber rifle and bags were recovered at the scene. The seizure of these items represents a significant disruption to poaching activities.

A total of 40 rhinos were poached last year in Namibia, while four elephants were killed, marking a significant decline compared with previous years. The poaching figures were confirmed by Bennett Kahuure, director of wildlife and national parks. He said that so far this year only one rhino poaching case has been reported, with no elephant poaching incidents recorded. "Overall, there has been a decline in poaching numbers over the past few years," Kahuure said. In 2024, Namibia recorded 81 rhino deaths at the hands of poachers.

Namibia's longstanding prohibition on the export of raw and unprocessed timber is aimed at curbing environmental degradation, creating local jobs and ensuring that the country derives greater economic value from its forest resources, the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has confirmed. In an interview with Namibian Sun, the ministry's chief forester, Jonas Mwiikinghi, said the ban is enforced through forest regulations that restrict timber exports unless the products have been processed or semi-processed to prescribed standards and size limits.

The Supreme Court of Appeal has been asked to untangle a complex knot of legal questions that have emerged in a controversial court case about rhino horn trading. The ruling opens the door for South African rhino breeders to sell their horns internationally - despite a 50-year ban on such sales. Northern Cape rhino breeder and hunting lodge owner Hendrick "Wicus" Diedericks will have to delay his plan to sell rhino horns to foreign buyers, despite winning two court cases that pave the pathway towards this goal.

The Minister of Tourism, Wildlife and Antiquities, Tom R. Butiime, has warned that Uganda risks losing vital medicinal and aromatic plant species due to overexploitation, habitat destruction and weak regulation, threatening healthcare systems, cultural heritage and rural livelihoods. Butiime made the remarks in Kampala as Uganda prepares to mark United Nations World Wildlife Day on March 3, 2026, amid growing concern over the unsustainable harvesting of medicinal plants from the wild.

Rhinos were once a common sight in Uganda's savannahs - particularly in regions like Murchison Falls National Park, Kidepo Valley, and Ajai Wildlife Reserve. However, by the early 1980s, rampant poaching and prolonged political instability had wiped rhino populations from the wild. In the face of this loss, conservationists refused to accept permanent extinction. The turning point came in the mid-1990s and early 2000s with the establishment of dedicated programs to restore rhinos within Uganda's protected areas.

Three suspects were arrested in Garies on Monday, 2 February 2026 at approximately 22:00 on the N7 road for being illegally in possession of protected species in Contravention of the Northern Cape Nature Conservation Act 9/2009, Sections 3 and 4. The suspects aged, 21, 29 and 37 were apprehended following a high-speed pursuit after they failed to stop when directed by police officials.

Lusaka Agreement Task Force (LATF), working in close collaboration with national law enforcement agencies and a partner (Freeland), successfully concluded a coordinated multi-agency operation that resulted in the arrest of suspected wildlife traffickers and the seizure of illegal elephant ivory in Namanga, a border town between Kenya and Tanzania. The operation, conducted on 24th January 2026, forms part of LATF's ongoing efforts to support Member States in dismantling organised transnational wildlife crime networks operating across Africa.

African lions are increasingly targeted for trade in their bones, skin, teeth and claws, according to a newly published study. Without urgent action, the authors warn, poaching may pose an existential threat to Panthera leo, which once numbered in the hundreds of thousands across Africa. Today, about 25,000 are relegated to just 6% of their historic range. They're classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Poaching is especially rising in Mozambique and South Africa, said Peter Lindsey, the study's lead author who directs the Wildlife Conservation Network's Lion Recovery Fund…

In a breakthrough against illegal wildlife trade, a swift undercover operation by Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) working in close collaboration with Lusaka Agreement Task Force (LATF), led to the arrest of three (3) suspects attempting to sell elephants tusks in Kiritiri town, Mbeere South Sub-County, on the evening of 28th May 2025. The arrests were made as part of a wider, ongoing search for criminal ivory traffickers in Kenya and beyond. Acting on actionable intelligence, the suspects were seeking buyers for six pieces of elephant tusks, which they were offering at USD 8500.

Kinshasa, January 26 ICCN , in collaboration with Conserv Congo and the judicial Police of the court of Matete, and has supported a major arrest and seizure operation in central Kinshasa resulting in the confiscation of 1,054 kilograms of pangolin scales and a lion’s skull intended for illegal international trade. Two suspected Congolese traffickers were arrested and placed in detention, while the seized wildlife products have been secured by judicial authorities. The pangolin is currently recognized as the most trafficked mammal in the world.

Two people have been arrested for suspected wildlife trafficking following a multi-agency operation that led to the seizure of elephant tusks valued at about Sh11 million in Namanga. According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI), the suspects, Imani Manasi Msumbwa and Justin Mwalima, both Tanzanian nationals, in the company of a Kenyan suspect, Alton Jilaoneka, were caught off guard at a hotel where they were reportedly negotiating a sale.

The 18-year prison sentence handed to Chinese national Cong Yangzhong in late 2025 cast fresh light and exposed the scale of illicit financial flows fueling wildlife crime in Zimbabwe. Arrested in Harare on July 16, 2025, the 47-year-old was found in possession of three rhino horns and four pieces of raw ivory with a combined street value exceeding US$246 000. While Cong's case stood out because of the quantities of ivory involved, conservationists said such matters are becoming a permanent feature in courts around Zimbabwe.

From vaults holding rhino horn stockpiles to pens of captive-bred lions, and from the elusive pangolin to plundered seas, an expanding illicit wildlife economy is eroding biodiversity, undermining sustainable livelihoods and fuelling transnational criminal networks. Legal loopholes, under-resourced enforcement agencies and the high value of wildlife products have created fertile ground for trafficking syndicates, allowing them to move endangered animals and derivatives across borders with alarming efficiency.

Claude Hakorimana, 32, a former poacher from a community bordering Volcanoes National Park, says he was drawn into illegal hunting at a very young age because it was all he knew growing up. He recalls starting at just 14, watching his parents rely on poaching for food and income. "I grew up seeing my parents hunt for a living. To me, it felt normal," Hakorimana said. "The meat fed the family, and whatever was left was sold for income. Poaching seemed like a reliable way to survive." Over time, his activities expanded in scale and distance.

Illegal wildlife trade is a growing global crisis and the largest direct threat to the future of many of the worl's most threatened species. Recent UN data (2015-2021) shows around 4,000 species impacted, including 3,250 listed under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). With an estimated annual value of up to $20 billion, it is the fourth most lucrative criminal enterprise in the world.

South Africa's newly released professional hunting statistics tell a story that is rarely stated plainly: trophy hunting is not a conservation tool, nor a reluctant compromise at the edges of wildlife management. It is a large, industrialised system of wildlife extraction, normalised through regulation, sanitised by conservation language and sustained by political accommodation.

During the early hours of this morning, members of the Ficksburg Visible Policing Unit carried out crime prevention operational concepts in the Ficksburg policing precinct. Police pulled over a white Toyota Alphard in Einde Street near a filling station at about 02:15. A search was conducted, and members found a parcel wrapped with brown sticky packaging tape inside the boot of the vehicle. The 39-year-old driver was asked to account for the parcel, and he informed the police that he had been requested to transport it from Johannesburg to Maseru.

Africa's lions have always lived on the edge of human worlds. They roam landscapes shaped by farms, roads, villages and borders - admired, feared and contested in equal measure. They face shrinking habitats, declining prey and conflict with people living alongside them. But a new danger is emerging - one that could undo hard-won conservation gains if it is not confronted quickly.

Poaching endangers the populations of endangered species worldwide, and species native to Namibia also suffer from illegal hunting. A key problem that keeps poaching persistent and growing is the continued demand for wildlife products from wildlife crime. And this demand is being fed - among other things by TikTok. TikTok is booming - and the platform is also being misused for the illegal sale of bushmeat. A recent study shows that public TikTok accounts in Africa advertise meat from wild animals, even from highly endangered species such as pangolins.

Police in Okahandja have arrested a 39-year-old Namibian man for the illegal possession and sale of a protected wildlife product, after he was found attempting to sell a leopard skin valued at N$80 000. The arrest followed an intelligence-led covert operation conducted on Saturday, 17 January 2026, at a service station along the main road, where undercover law-enforcement officers posed as buyers. According to the weekend crime report, the suspect was apprehended at the scene and charged with unlawful possession and dealing in controlled wildlife products without a valid permit…

The Minister of Environment, Indileni Daniel, has raised alarm over the growing incidence of illegal sand and gravel mining nationwide, warning that unregulated activities pose serious risks to both the environment and local communities. "The Ministry has noted with serious concern the continued increase in illegal sand and gravel mining activities across various parts of Namibia.

Rather than operating on the fringes, organised wildlife crime networks are embedding themselves within lawful supply chains and financial channels - making wildlife trafficking not just an environmental crime, but a serious financial one. Global experts are calling for financial institutions and regulators to treat wildlife trafficking as a serious financial crime and to "follow the money" to reach the people organising and profiting from these networks.