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.
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Illegal harvesting and trafficking of plants have skyrocketed in Namibia over the past few years. Arrests of suspects for crimes related to plants have increased from three in 2021 to 42 last year. According to the Namibia National Wildlife Protection Report for 2024, Namibian flora is clearly becoming increasingly popular in the ornamental-plant trade, driven by online marketing. Statistics provided in the report showed that 1 211 plant products were seized last year and 18 cases related to plant crimes were registered, while nine cases were finalised.
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NAM_2024_07_Criminal syndicates target Namibias plants_Namibian Sun_0.pdf | 270.91 KB |
Illegal harvesting and trafficking of plants have skyrocketed in Namibia over the past few years. Arrests of suspects for crimes related to plants have increased from three in 2021 to 42 last year. According to the Namibia National Wildlife Protection Report for 2024, Namibian flora is clearly becoming increasingly popular in the ornamental-plant trade, driven by online marketing. Statistics provided in the report showed that 1 211 plant products were seized last year and 18 cases related to plant crimes were registered, while nine cases were finalised.
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NAM_2024_07_Criminal syndicates target Namibias plants_Namibian Sun.pdf | 270.91 KB |
Surging organised wildlife crime syndicates, limitations in wildlife protection, prosecution and sentencing, and inappropriate sentencing are just some of the wildlife crime challenges authorities grapple with in Namibia. According to the Namibia National Report on Wildlife Protection 2023, organised criminal activity appears to be increasing in various sectors involving Namibia's natural resources. The report said that during 2023, complex syndicate operations were investigated related to rhino poaching, live-plant trafficking, illicit timber harvesting and trophy shooting.
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NAM_2024_07_Wildlife crime a complex problem to address_Namibian Sun.pdf | 209.16 KB |
The wildlife crime cases over the last two years have mostly involved antelopes, pangolins, small mammals, rhinos and elephants.
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NAM_2024_07_Over 1 300 arrested for wildlife crimes in two years_Namibian Sun_0.pdf | 241.14 KB |
Rangers from across the southern African region, including Namibia, have established a new community of practice for monitoring and reporting on elephant mortality. Accurate and consistent data on elephant deaths is crucial for understanding and effectively addressing the threats faced by 'nature's gardeners', which include human-elephant conflict, habitat loss and the illegal killing for ivory. Reliable data allows for informed decision-making and effective conservation measures to ensure the long-term survival of African elephants in their natural habitats.
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NAM_2024_07_Empowering data_driven rangers_Windhoek Express.pdf | 117.95 KB |
The Rhino Sanctuary Namibia, located about 60km from Windhoek will officially open its doors this September. Although they have already had guests at the lodge to experience the magnificent surroundings and to pay a visit to the white rhinos roaming the area, they are still busy with some final touches. Manager Stefanus Prinsloo explained that the idea for Rhino Sanctuary Namibia came from the lodge owner, Tom Kjær who wanted to assist in protecting the rhinos against increasing poaching in Namibia.
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NAM_2024_07_Rhino Protection Unit in the lap of luxury_Windhoek Express.pdf | 219.93 KB |
According to the report, three Namibians were arrested on 15 October at Katima Mulilo for being in the possession of a live pangolin. Chika Ilukena, Mayuni and Nicky Mundia were charged with illegal possession and dealing of controlled wildlife products. At Witvlei, three Namibians were arrested on 16 October when they were caught with an oryx carcass.
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NAM_2021_10_23 arrested for wildlife crimes_Namibian Sun.pdf | 247.19 KB |
According to the latest wildlife crime report, Petrus van Rensburg was arrested at Ariamsvlei on 9 October with 10 oryx carcasses. He was charged for the illegal hunting of huntable game. In another incident, Kaserandu Tjiumbua was arrested at Kamdesha on 10 October for poisoning four lions and two spotted hyenas. He was charged with illegal hunting of game and for administering poison. At Rundu, Dominikus Ndara was arrested on 11 October for being in the possession of a python skin. He was charged for the illegal possession and dealing of controlled wildlife products.
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NAM_2021_10_20 wildlife products seized from 9 suspects_Namibian Sun.pdf | 294.92 KB |
The connections between poaching and human-wildlife conflict in conservancies are a significant local conservation concern. Meanwhile, poaching is compromising the ability of local communities to legally use natural resources to support local livelihoods, and reduces wildlife available for local economic development. This is according to the United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) Alka Bhatia. She was speaking at a signing ceremony of the 'integrated approach to proactive management of human-wildlife conflict and wildlife crime in hotspot landscapes in Namibia' project…
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NAM_2021_10_Poaching_wildlife conflict connected_Namibian Sun.pdf | 172.31 KB |
While recent statistics indicate that Namibia is winning the battle against both wildlife crime and human-wildlife conflict, an almost N$100 million project will intensify these efforts. This is according to the environment ministry executive director, Teofilus Nghitila. He was speaking at the signing of the project document. The total budget of the project is approximately N$92 million at current exchange rates and will ramp up Namibia's efforts to prevent and mitigate both human-wildlife conflict and wildlife crime in the period up to 2026.
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NAM_2021_10_NS92m injection against wildlife crime_Namibian Sun.pdf | 318.19 KB |
Terwyl onlangse statistieke aandui Namibië wen die stryd teen wildmisdaad en mens-dier-konflik, sal 'n projek van stapel gestuur word om hierdie pogings te versterk. Dit volgens die uitvoerende direkteur van die omgewing, bosbou en toerisme, mnr. Teofilus Nghitila. Hy het dit tydens die ondertekening van die projekdokument getiteld "Geïntegreerde benadering tot pro-aktiewe bestuur van mens-dier-konflik en wildmisdaad in brandpunt-landskappe in Namibië" gesê.
Once the world gets the Covid-19 pandemic under control, poaching of elephants could skyrocket again because of the accumulated demand for ivory in the world's black markets. Daniel Stiles, an independent investigator who specialises in illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife products, warns that a recent rise in black-market prices for ivory in Vietnam and China are disturbing signs. He says this in a report that forms part of a series by the Global Initiative against Transnational Organised Crime (GI-TOC).
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NAM_2021_10_Elephant poaching could skyrocket after Covid_Namibian Sun.pdf | 395.4 KB |