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.
A Chinese man has been found guilty of illegal possession of a pair of rhino horns worth US$120 000 and faces the nine-year mandatory jail sentence for the offence. Fuxi Wang, who had initially pleaded not guilty, was convicted after a full trial by Harare magistrate Ruth Moyo. He is expected back in court on Thursday, November 6 2025 for sentencing. The court heard that on February 20 this year, Wang wanted to export a purported sculpture from Zimbabwe to China through the Robert Gabriel International Airport.
An illegal ivory dealer, who was busted after a tip off, was yesterday remanded in custody after his initial appearance in court. Daniel Mangezi of Glen View, was not asked to plead when he appeared before Harare magistrate Ruth Moyo. He was advised to approach the High Court for bail considerations since he was facing a third schedule offence. The court heard that on April 14, detectives from CID Minerals, Flora and Fauna Unit Harare received information that Mangezi was in possession of ivory in Glen View 3, Harare, and was looking for buyers.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| ZIM_2025_04_Zimbabwe_Illegal ivory dealer remanded in custody_The Herald.pdf | 49.26 KB |
Two men, who were found in possession of five lion head skulls, which they intended to sell, were yesterday fined for the offence. Shelton Chibaya (36) and Benedict Mutinhima (31) work at Kyle Recreational Park in Masvingo. They appeared before Harare magistrate Ruth Moyo and were charged with contravening the Parks and Wildlife Act.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| ZIM_2024_04_Two men fined for illegal possession of lion heads_H_Metro.pdf | 60.7 KB |
The employees, two of whom are security guards while the other is attached to technical services at one of the Kruger National Park rest camps, appeared in court on Thursday following the discovery of fresh rhino horns in their vehicle. In a statement released by SANParks on Friday, the Managing Executive for the Kruger park, Gareth Coleman, said it was "always disheartening when colleagues from SANParks are involved in criminal activities.
Until an illegal wildlife trade report was published in May 2015, Malawi's role in one of the world's largest transnational organised crimes was largely unknown. The landlocked southeast African nation - bordered by countries with large wildlife populations - was revealed to be a major trafficking hub for ivory, pangolin scales, rhino horn and other illegal wildlife commodities. Malawi's weak identification and enforcement systems were being systematically exploited by criminals to export their products to China, Vietnam and other demand countries. In response…
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| Malawi_2020-10_Illegal wildlife trade_Journal of African Elephants.pdf | 828.61 KB |
Illegal trade in the endangered animals on the rise again as lockdown decreases. Several pangolins have already been rescued this year.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| SA_2020-09_Pangolin rescued and three people arrested in North West_The South African.pdf | 386.65 KB |
We are working with conservation charity Space for Giants to protect wildlife at risk from poachers due to the conservation funding crisis caused by Covid-19. Help is desperately needed to support wildlife rangers, local communities and law enforcement personnel to prevent wildlife crime.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| SA_2020-09_Inside the courtroom battle against the deadly rhino horn trade_The Independent UK.pdf | 701.04 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.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| SA_2020-08_Police sting operation leads to abalone seizure and arrest_The South African.pdf | 402.45 KB |
Minister says efforts are paying off, with lockdown and increased law enforcement efforts cutting rhino deaths to 166 to date.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| SA_2020-07_Lockdown restrictions help cut rhino poaching by half this year_The South African.pdf | 251.82 KB |