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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The International Consortium on Combating Wildlife Crime (ICCWC) launched its annual report for 2023, highlighting the successes and achievements of countries it supports in combating wildlife and forest crime, of which Namibia is one. The consortium uses targeted and evidence-based approaches to strengthen criminal justice systems and provide coordinated support to enhance responses to wildlife crime.
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NAM_2024-W35_ICCWC highlights achievements in combating wildlife crime_Namibian Sun.pdf | 74.5 KB |
Gerhardus Petrus van Zyl (50) is in hegtenis geneem en van onwettige jag van jagbare wild aangekla. Hy het na bewering 23 koedoe-, 17 eland-, nege hartebees- en 139 gemsbokvelle in sy besit gehad. Gerhardus Petrus van Zyl (50) was arrested and charged with illegal hunting of huntable game. He allegedly had in his possession 23 kudu, 17 eland, nine hartebeest and 139 oryx skins.
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NAM_2024_08_Man vas vir onwettige jag_Republikein.pdf | 56.82 KB |
NAM_2024_08_Man arrested for illegal hunting_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 58.23 KB |
The ongoing high rates of wildlife crime in Namibia and its expansion into new sectors, despite active law enforcement efforts, are clear signs that rigorous crime fighting alone will not reduce these activities. This is according to the Namibia National Report on Wildlife Protection for 2023, which warned that while law enforcement is vital, particularly in combatting organised criminal activities, further initiatives should be employed to reduce wildlife crimes.
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NAM_2024_08_Policing alone not enough to stop wildlife crime_Namibian Sun.pdf | 268.26 KB |
Pangolins continue to rank second behind rhinos among the wildlife most targeted by poachers in Namibia in terms of the number of cases registered in 2023. Last year, 60 wildlife crime cases were registered for pangolins and 90 cases for rhinos. In 2022, 36 pangolin cases were registeres.
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NAM_2024_08_Spike in pangolin poaching_Namibian Sun.pdf | 284.09 KB |
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.
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NAM_2022_09_Rhinos not negatively impacted by dehorning_Namibian Sun.pdf | 586.02 KB |
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.
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NAM_2022_09_Profeet skuldig aan stropery_Republikein.pdf | 672.39 KB |
NAM_2022_-09_Prophet guilty of poaching_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 476.17 KB |
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).
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NAM_2022_09_Namibia recommits to combatting elephant poaching_Namibian Sun.pdf | 517.08 KB |
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.
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NAM_2022_09_Dehorning to protect against poachers_Namibian Sun.pdf | 592.17 KB |
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.
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NAM_2022_09_Renosters word onthoring na stropery toeneem_Republikein.pdf | 556.69 KB |
NAM_2022_09_Rhinos are dehorned after poaching increases_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 555.23 KB |
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.
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NAM_2022_09_Nog twee swart renosters gestroop_Republikein.pdf | 468.35 KB |
NAM_2022_09_Two more black rhinos poached_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 465.61 KB |