The establishment of a first-of-its-kind specialised Environmental Crimes Court in Otjiwarongo has made notable progress in adjudicating wildlife-related crime cases since it began operations at the start of the year. Romeo Muyunda, spokesperson for the environment ministry, said the development of the court required careful planning among key government stakeholders, including the Office of the Prosecutor General, the justice ministry and the judiciary. He added that NGOs and funding partners responded positively and enthusiastically to the idea, recognising it as a crucial initiative to help clear the backlog of existing wildlife-crime cases while expediting new cases. The initiative forms part of the national wildlife protection strategy to aid in the fight against wildlife crime.