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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 - 10 of 10
Monday, 26 September 2022
Smit E 2022. Rhino's not negatively impacted by dehorning.

The dehorning of rhinos began in 1989, making Namibia the first country to use it as an anti-poaching method. There remains a lot of conjecture surrounding the possible implications of dehorning rhinos. While the benefits of such an exercise have long been proved, some sceptics believe it could have some effect on rhino behaviour and biology.

Monday, 12 September 2022
Smit E 2022. 'Profeet' skuldig aan stropery.

Die selfverklaarde profeet Jackson Babi is Vrydag in die Gobabis-landdroshof op 12 klagte skuldig bevind wat met renosterstropery verband hou. Babi staar ten minste tien jaar tronkstraf in die gesig. In totaal is hy skuldig bevind en gevonnis vir 19 misdade en moet hy boetes ter waarde van N$370 000 betaal. Sou hy nie die boetes betaal nie, sal verdere tronkstraf by sy vonnis gevoeg word.

Friday, 9 September 2022
Smit E 2022. Namibia recommits to combatting elephant poaching.

The elephant population in Namibia has increased over the years from an estimated 7 000 at independence to about 23 736, but the growing population has become a major cause of human-wildlife conflict. Namibia is part of seven southern African elephant range states that have strongly reconfirmed their commitment to combatting elephant poaching ahead of this year's World Wildlife Conference (Cop 19).

Tuesday, 6 September 2022
Smit E 2022. Dehorning to protect against poachers.

Private rhino owners have begun dehorning their animals again to protect them against a recent surge in rhino poaching. The number of rhinos poached this year has increased to 48, surpassing last year's total of 44, and the 42 rhinos poached in total in 2020. Of the animals poached this year so far, 32 were black rhinos and 16 were white rhinos. Twelve black rhinos were poached on custodianship farms and 16 white rhinos were poached on private farms.

Friday, 2 September 2022
Smit E 2022. Renosters word onthoring na stropery toeneem.

Private renostereienaars onthoring tans hul diere om hulle teen die onlangse toename in stroperyvoorvalle te beskerm. Altesaam 48 renosters is reeds vanjaar gestroop, wat reeds verlede jaar se syfer van 44 oortref, asook die 42 renosters in 2020. Uit dié 48 was 32 swart- en 16 witrenosters – waarvan 12 swartrenosters op bewaringsplase gestroop is en 16 witrenosters op private plase.

Thursday, 1 September 2022
Smit E 2022. Nog twee swart renosters gestroop.

Karkasse op private wildplase gevind: Een van die renosterkarkasse wat ontdek is, was dié van 'n dragtige koei. 

Carcasses found on private game farms: One of the rhino carcasses discovered was that of a pregnant cow.

Wednesday, 30 July 2014
Smit E 2014. Another rhino killing discovered in Kunene.

Another case of rhino poaching has been discovered in the Kunene Region. An old carcass of a rhino was found on Sunday in the area of Etendeka. The discovery came barely a week after the skull of a rhino that had been poached was found in the same area.

Friday, 25 July 2014
Smit E 2014. Poaching will hit tourism industry hard.

The escalation of rhino and elephant poaching in Namibia will have a devastating impact on the country's tourism industry if it continues unabated. Experts in the tourism industry told Namibian Sun that the impact Namibia will experience in the short and long term will include a drop in tourist arrivals, job losses in the sector and revenue loss. The country's reputation will be harmed and it may even hold political risk for government if the recent surge of poaching is not addressed.

Thursday, 24 July 2014
Smit E 2014. Rhino carcass discovered in Kunene.

Another case of rhino poaching has been discovered in the Kunene Region and is being investigated by the police. A spokesperson for the police, Deputy Commissioner Edwin Kanguatjivi, yesterday confirmed that a rhino carcass was discovered on July 17 at Etendeka in the Sesfontein area. Members of the Save the Rhino Trust discovered the carcass during a routine patrol at Otjijapa village. Upon closer inspection of the skull it was found that the rhino had been dehorned.

Monday, 14 July 2014
Smit E 2014. LAC gets involved in fighting poaching.

The Legal Assistance Centre (LAC) has embarked on a community advocacy campaign focusing specifically on conservancies in the Palmwag Concession area that are most affected by the escalation in black rhino poaching. The project coordinator of the Legal Assistance Centre, Willem Odendaal, said the Conservation Support Project stems from recommendations made during a stakeholder workshop on wildlife crime held in May this year. Odendaal made the remarks when the Pupkewitz Foundation donated a Toyota Land Cruiser to the Legal Assistance Centre.

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