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Namibian Wildlife Crimes article archive

This archive of published media articles about wildlife crime in Namibia aims to:

  • provide easy public access to published information and statistics
  • enable easy stakeholder access to articles
  • provide a comprehensive archive of wildlife crime reporting in Namibia

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.

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Displaying results 1 - 21 of 21
Friday, 29 September 2023
2023. Man jailed five years for unlawful possession of Ivory.

The Itezhi -Tezhi Magistrates' Court in Southern Province has convicted and slapped a five year jail sentence with hard labour on a 51-year-old man for being found in possession of Ivory. Particulars were Shamazongo on 15th September 2023, in Itezhi -Tezhi had in his possession a prescribed trophy namely 10.4 kilograms of Ivory without a certificate of authority from the Director General of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife.

Friday, 29 September 2023
McCann G 2023. Vietnamese syndicates wiping out African megafauna.

Vietnamese syndicates play an outsized, sophisticated role in the illicit trade of elephant ivory, rhinoceros horn, pangolin scales, and other wildlife products, according to a recent undercover investigation by the Environmental Investigation Agency that details sourcing, packing, and transporting ivory and rhino horn through an intricate maze of transport routes out of various African ports to Malaysia, then through Laos, and finally overland into Vietnam. The numbers are staggering.

Friday, 22 September 2023
2023. Bewaffnete Wilderer bei Outjo.

Die Meldungen von Wildereivorfällen auf namibischen Farmen reißen nicht ab. Jüngst berichtete die Farm Moselle bei Outjo von einem Wilderer, der sich wiederholt bewaffnet auf der Farm aufhält und wildert. Nach Überzeugung der Farmbesitzer handelt es sich bei dem Verdächtigen um einen ehemaligen Farmarbeiter, den sie vor einigen Jahren wegen unangebrachten und gefährlichen Verhaltens entlassen hätten.

Wednesday, 20 September 2023
Gaveni K 2023. Five arrested for poaching.

Five men were arrested for poaching at Humani Ranch which led to the recovery of 15 kg of Impala meat and a live Pangolin. In a statement, police said: "The suspects are Peter Tendi (38), Innocent Manyezu (31), Michael Bishou (23), Hlanganayi Sithole (61)." The suspects were arrested on Monday following a tip-off. On 18/09/23, Police in Chipinge acted on received information and arrested Peter Tendi (38), Innocent Manyezu (31), Michael Bishou (23), Harunaishe Shuro (43), and Johnson Hlanganayi Sithole (61) in connection with poaching at Humani Ranch…

Monday, 18 September 2023
2023. SPCA cracks down on Illegal hunting.

The Bloemfontein SPCA recently attended to two instances of Illegal hunting in the district of Bothaville. According to the SPCA, the first of the two incidents took place on Sunday 10 September, where seven suspects were arrested, and 22 dogs were confiscated after multiple duikers were caught illegally.  "The incident was highly organised and showed signs of an active criminal organisation," said the SPCA. The second incident took place on 16 September where an additional four individuals were arrested, and two more dogs were confiscated after five…

Monday, 18 September 2023
Smit E 2023. Erneute Kaution für Lombaard.

Die Brüder Lombaard sind wegen mehrerer Vergehen im Zusammenhang mit illegalem Wildtransport angeklagt. Gegen Johan Lombaard, der jüngst auf Kaution freigelassen wurde, liegt nun noch ein ausstehender Haftbefehl vor, für den er wieder Kaution erhielt.

The Lombaard brothers are charged with several offenses related to illegal game transport. Johan Lombaard, who was recently released on bail, now has an outstanding arrest warrant for which he was granted bail again.

Friday, 15 September 2023
Smit E 2023. Lombaard arrested again.

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.…

Tuesday, 12 September 2023
David M 2023. Pensioner caught for killing protected game.

A 62-year-old pensioner man was arrested for shooting a Duiker and monitor lizard worth N$23 400. The incident occurred at farm 39 in Mangetti Cattle Range, Kavango West.

Tuesday, 12 September 2023
Smit E 2023. Lombaard brothers charged with illegal capture of game.

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…

Tuesday, 12 September 2023
Smit E 2023. Lombaard-Brüder angeklagt.

Die beiden Lombaard-Brüder, die in Mariental das Wildtierzucht-, Fang- und Exportunternehmen Golden Game gegründet haben, werden heute (Dienstag) vor dem Magistratsgericht in Gobabis erscheinen, um einen formellen Antrag auf Kaution zu stellen. Ihnen wird vorgeworfen, illegal Wild im Wert von 817 000 N$ gefangen und transportiert zu haben.

Tuesday, 12 September 2023
Smit E 2023. Broers in heftenis oor 'onwettige wildvangery'.

Die twee Lombaard-broers wat die Golden Game-wildboerdery-, vang- en uitvoeronderneming
in Mariental gestig het, sal vandag in die landdroshof op Gobabis verskyn vir ’n formele aansoek
om borgtog op aanklagte van die onwettige vang en vervoer van wild ter waarde van N$817 000.

The two Lombaard brothers, who founded the Golden Game game farming, trapping and
exporting business in Mariental, will appear in the magistrate's court at Gobabis today for a
formal application for bail on charges of the illegal capture and transport of game to value of
N$817…

Tuesday, 12 September 2023
2023. Illegal wildlife trade fuels poaching  - Segokgo.

Pangolin poaching for enhanced sexual pleasure on the increase. The Commander of Botswana Defence Force, Lieutenant General Placid Segokgo, has warned that poaching will continue to be part of our lives for as long as some countries in Asia cling to their beliefs that some organs of wild animals give them sexual powers. Addressing journalists at a recent press briefing, Segokgo said, “There are some people in the East who believe that consuming or applying samples of organs such as horns, teeth, or even skins enhance their sexual…

Tuesday, 12 September 2023
Mpofu J 2023. Gold panner up for poaching.

A 26-year-old gold panner from village 8, Inyathi, Matabeleland North province has appeared at the Bulawayo Magistrates Courts for killing a kudu valued at US$1 500.

Monday, 11 September 2023
Naidoo S 2023. Elephant shot eight times during 'unlawful' hunt at Limpopo game reserve.

A male elephant was shot eight times during a trophy hunt before eventually succumbing to its injuries on 3 September 2023. Humane Society International is now looking at the legal options it can pursue. The animal welfare group said the issuing of the permit by Limpopo to hunt the animal was unlawful because of an court interdict in place. "The elephant suffered through eight gunshots over an extended period of time before finally succumbing to his injuries.

Monday, 11 September 2023
2023. Gabon makes major poaching arrests.

Authorities in Gabon have dismantled a broad network of international ivory traffickers who smuggled ivory from Gabon to Cameroon and onto lucrative Asian markets. The operation involved the Gabonese judicial police and government directorates of forestry and wildlife, with the support of the NGO Conservation Justice.

Sunday, 10 September 2023
Muonwa J 2023. Pair busted selling elephant skin for US$1,500.

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.

Friday, 8 September 2023
Hartman A 2023. Stock theft and poaching still manageable - top cop.

Despite farmers' concerns that stock theft and poaching in the Erongo region's north-west district has reached crisis levels, Erongo police commander commissioner Nikolaus Kupembona says the challenges are manageable as long as strategies are put in place. He says ongoing stock theft and poaching involve "isolated incidents". "It starts with the farmers' own security measures.

Thursday, 7 September 2023
Duba S 2023. Gauteng Hawks bust three men for illegal possession of elephant tusks.

The Hawks' Serious Organised Crime Johannesburg and K9 Unit Johannesburg arrested three men who were driving a Nissan Almera loaded with ivory tusks around the Bruma area in Johannesburg. Three suspects, aged between 33 and 35, were arrested on Wednesday in Bruma, Johannesburg, by members of the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Johannesburg and K9 Unit Johannesburg for the illegal possession of elephant tusks.

Monday, 4 September 2023
Maela T 2023. SANParks records a 78% decrease in Rhino poaching.

Building on last year's donation of four Bat Hawk surveillance aircraft to South African National Parks (SANParks) to aid surveillance, conservation and anti-poaching efforts in the Kruger National Park, Anglo American Platinum this morning donated another Bat Hawk that will be going to SANParks' Addo Elephant National Park in the Eastern Cape. In addition, a Bat Hawk aircraft will be donated to Mapungubwe National Park, which is located on the border of South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe.

Monday, 4 September 2023
Hattingh E 2023. 'Vee-, wilddiefstal-probleem oorweldigend'.

Omaruru-boere sê gemsbokke in dié omgewing is so te sê uitgeroei en dat hulle bekommerd is oor die impak op die toerismebedryf. 

Omaruru farmers say chamois in this area have been virtually eradicated and that they are worried about the impact on the tourism industry.

Saturday, 2 September 2023
2023. Zebra allegedly killed by poacher at Pietermaritzburg Lion Park.

A zebra was allegedly killed by a poacher at the Lion Park, outside Pietermaritzburg on Thursday evening. According to a statement by the Mi7 National Group, they received information at around 7 pm from a community member who reported having witnessed a zebra being poached and skinned in the park.

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