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.
Nairobi, Kenya: Eleven cheetah cubs were rescued from illegal trade in Somaliland in what a conservationist described on Thursday as "one of the largest confiscations of the species." The cubs were packed in bags that resembled sacks of potatoes and were being transported in a small dhow off the Somaliland coast at Berbera when the local coast guard intercepted them on Sunday. Two locals and three Yemenis were arrested during the rescue operation, and the cheetahs were taken to a rescue center owned by the Cheetah Conservation Fund, or CCF.
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KEN_2025_09_Cheetah cubs destined for illegal trade in exotic pets rescued in Somaliland_ABC News.pdf | 237.62 KB |
Cape Town, South Africa - Poachers in South Africa killed more than 100 rhinos in the first three months of this year, most of them inside national parks, highlighting an ongoing battle to protect one of the best-known endangered species. South African Environment Minister Dion George announced the figures Monday and said that of the 103 rhinos killed between Jan. 1 and March 31, 65 were poached in national parks. The average of more than one rhino killed a day is in line with last year's count and "a stark reminder of the relentless threat to our wildlife," George said.
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SA_2025_05_Poachers have killed over 100 rhinos in South Africa this year_ABC News.pdf | 178.71 KB |
Policw in Harare on Sunday arrested a self-styled prophet for possessing a three-metre long python skin.
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ZIM_2023_09_Self_styled prophet arrested for python skin_The Sunday Mail.pdf | 130.32 KB |
Rhinos were poached to near extinction in Zimbabwe. Now a private wildlife sanctuary is reintroducing them to places.
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ZIM_2022_09_The wildlife sanctuary bringing rhinos back from the brink_ABC News.pdf | 890.05 KB |
Two men have been arrested in Bulawayo after they were found in possession of 20,5 kilogrammes of elephant tusks.
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ZIM_2022_07_Zimbabwean_foreigner nabbed over elephant tusks_The Sunday Mail.pdf | 223.64 KB |
Police arrested two men in Chiredzi for poaching impalas and recovered three carcasses during investigations. In a statement, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) said it had also recovered poaching paraphernalia such as knives and a hunting torch. On June 28, police in Chiredzi arrested Passmore Mashava (26) and Shepherd Madzore (30) in connection with poaching of three impalas.
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ZIM_2022_06_Duo arrested for poaching impalas_The Sunday Mail.pdf | 143.06 KB |
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has arrested three men from Chipinge for suspected unlawful possession of two live pangolins.
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ZIM_2022_04_Trio nabbed for pangolins_The Sunday Mail.pdf | 473.86 KB |
Police have launched a manhunt for a suspected poacher after a rhino carcass was discovered with a bullet in its forehead in Matobo, Matabeleland South province, on Monday. In a statement on Wednesday, police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said investigations are underway. "The ZRP is investigating a case of poaching of protected animals, where a Black Rhino carcass with horns missing was found at Makotama Resettlements, Matobo, on February 7, 2022".
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ZIM_2022_02_New_Manhunt for rhino poacher_The Sunday Mail.pdf | 254.6 KB |
Three men who were allegedly found in possession of a pangolin worth US$5 000 appeared before a Harare magistrate on Friday facing charges of contravening the Parks and Wildlife Act (Chapter 20:14). Munashe Maposa (23), Oswell Chingwara (21) and Vincent Sigauke (23) of Chipinge were denied bail and remanded to February 18 for bail application. Prosecutor Ms Ruvimbo Matyatya said on February 3, at around 6am, detectives from the CID Minerals Flaura and Fauna Unit received information that a male adult was selling a live pangolin along George Silundika Street in Harare.
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ZIM_2022_02_Three in court for pangolin possession_The Sunday Mail.pdf | 146.45 KB |
One of the seven Chinese nationals who slipped out of the country while on bail after being arraigned on charges of money laundering and possession of more than 20 kilogrammes of rhino horns has been arrested by the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) in the United Arab Emirates after spending over two years on the run.
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ZIM_2021_12_Chinese fugitive arrested in UAE_The Sunday Mail.pdf | 358.72 KB |
In the past three years, gun battles between rhino poachers and the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority (ZimParks) rangers have killed about 20 people. Wildlife economists say a country like Zimbabwe, which has a large rhino population, needs to continue to remain alert as the endangered species to be under threat from poachers. According to America-based wildlife organisation, World Animal Foundation, the rhino horn is estimated at US$65 000 per kg, which is more than the value of gold or diamonds.
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ZIM_2021_11_All hands on deck against rhino poaching_The Sunday Mail.pdf | 1.18 MB |
Poachers in Africa are encroaching on wildlife and killing rhinos in travel hotspots now devoid of visitors due to the coronavirus pandemic. Tourism revenue for some of Africa’s wildlife reserves and national parks has declined sharply as a result of the coronavirus crisis.
According to the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), 322 elephants were killed by poachers between 2016 and 2019, largely for their tusks. These are then shipped out to Asia, via South Africa, but the real number may be much higher, according to wildlife groups. Much of the poaching occurs in northern Zimbabwe in game reserves straddling the border with Zambia, according to ZimParks, a statutory body responsible for managing the country’s wildlife population.
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ZIM_2020-04_Elephant poaching and illicit financial flows_The Sunday Mail.pdf | 312.38 KB |