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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 - 7 of 7
Sunday, 23 March 2025
2025. Operation Willow: Major pangolin trafficking bust in Nigeria.

On March 23, 2025, a critical wildlife crime operation unfolded in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, a known hub for organized crime and wildlife trafficking. With assistance from Focused Conservation, the Nigeria Special Wildlife Office (NSWO), supported by the Nigeria Customs Police, executed Operation Willow - an intelligence-driven sting to dismantle a key trafficking network supplying pangolin scales. The NSWO acted on intelligence indicating that a trafficker in the region was actively supplying pangolin scales for the illegal wildlife trade.

Friday, 7 March 2025
2025. ZimParks calls for cancellation of Sinamatella mining application to protect wildlife habitat.
The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has urged the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development to cancel Sunny Yi Feng’s application to prospect for coal in the Sinamatella area of Hwange National Park. ZimParks argues that the area is a critical habitat for the endangered black rhino.
Monday, 22 July 2024
2024. Operation Pear II: Notorious pangolin scale trafficker arrested in Liberia.

In a major breakthrough for wildlife conservation efforts, the Special Wildlife Investigation Unit (SWIU) has successfully apprehended Amadou Bah, an internationally renowned trafficker of pangolin scales. This significant arrest comes after Bah had eluded capture since January 2024, following the seizure of 176 kilos of pangolin scales in Grand Gedah County, Liberia. The SWIU, mentored by Focused Conservation, is comprised of officers from the Liberia National Police, Liberia Forestry Development Authority, and Liberia Customs.

Monday, 18 September 2023
2023. SPCA cracks down on Illegal hunting.

The Bloemfontein SPCA recently attended to two instances of Illegal hunting in the district of Bothaville. According to the SPCA, the first of the two incidents took place on Sunday 10 September, where seven suspects were arrested, and 22 dogs were confiscated after multiple duikers were caught illegally.  "The incident was highly organised and showed signs of an active criminal organisation," said the SPCA. The second incident took place on 16 September where an additional four individuals were arrested, and two more dogs were confiscated after five…

Friday, 28 October 2022
2022. Poachers kill, de-horn black rhino.

Poachers recently killed and de-horned a black rhinoceros at Chipinge Safari Camp. ZRP spokesperson in Manicaland Province, Inspector Nobert Muzondo, confirmed the incident to The Manica Post saying the decomposing carcass of the black rhinoceros was found on 12 October. He said: Poachers sneaked into Chipinge Safari Camp armed with unknown rifles. They proceeded to one of the water points along the Chidimayi River on the safari where they shot and killed a black rhinoceros.

Thursday, 28 April 2022
2022. A quintet arrested for possession of elephant tusks, fresh tail, guns.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has announced the arrest of five people over the possession of elephant tusks in violation of the Wildlife Management laws.

Sunday, 11 July 2021
2021. Poachers caught with humongous live pangolin.

Two poachers who were in possession of a female pangolin weighing over 13kg were nabbed by wildlife activists in Hwange on Thursday last week.

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