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Wildlife crime poses a serious threat to conservation efforts across Africa that rob communities of high-value resources and reduce their benefits from natural resources. The just-released 2023 State of Municipal Conservation Report warns that wildlife crime is occurring at multiple levels, necessitating a widespread response from multiple agencies. "Some wildlife crime takes place at a subsistence level for food or at a commercial level, which then involves crime syndicates and illegal international smuggling, which increases the stakes," the report said.

With rising cases of human-wildlife conflict across Namibia, a recent report has recommended that the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism introduce annual culling of problematic wildlife in all regions. This measure, determined by each region's carrying capacity, aims to reduce conflicts and safeguard both human lives and livelihoods. This recommendation is part of a report by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources on the Motion on Human-Wildlife Conflict.

Seven suspects were arrested last week in connection with old wildlife crime cases. This is according to weekly wildlife crime statistics issued by the protected resource division and the intelligence and investigation unit within the safety and environment ministries. On 19 November, two Namibian men, Festus Amunyela and Mekondjo Tsillinus, were arrested at Oshivelo for conspiring to poach a rhino on 16 June. In another incident, Angolan national Ndango Nicolaus was arrested on 17 November in Rundu for being in possession of a pangolin on 4 August.

Only two new wildlife crime cases were registered last week, with three suspects arrested. This is according to the weekly crime statistics for 7 to 13 November. Twelve wildlife crime cases were heard in court, while one was finalised. In Otjiwarongo, two Namibian men - Tjizire Kohongo and Angula Kafidi - were arrested on 8 November for being in possession of a leopard skin. They have appeared in court and were refused bail. In a separate incident in Rundu, 55-year-old Namibian Ngoma Mungenyu was arrested on 11 November for being in possession of an African skunk skin.