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.
The rise in lions bred and sold for parties and social media displays reveals legal loopholes, safety risks, and serious animal welfare issues. The presence of exotic animals in luxury homes in Thailand has grown intensely in recent years, because a new status symbol has emerged among the elite: lion cubs. This preference is spreading through social media and shows a trend marked by ostentation, ignorance, and strong criticism from activists.
The global demand for small wildlife, including ants, spiders and scorpions, is increasing. Just this week, a group of Belgians and Vietnamese were sentenced for smuggling ants out of Kenya. Dr Caswell Munyai, a myrmecologist from UKZN has more on this.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| SA_2025_05_Global demand for small wildlife on the increase_ENCA.pdf | 44.87 KB |
Johannesburg - SANParks is welcoming hefty sentences handed to rhino poachers by the Skukuza Regional Court. Four men, including a former field ranger, were arrested in Skukuza in 2019 following a tip-off. Poaching equipment and a set of rhino horns were seized.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| SA_2025_01_Rhino poaching_SANParks welcomes hefty court sentences_ENCA.pdf | 201.8 KB |
Four Chinese nationals were arrested last week in Kampala for their involvement in illegal wildlife trade and tax evasion. The suspects were apprehended by the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) in collaboration with Uganda Police and Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) following the discovery of illegal wildlife products and smuggled goods at their residence in Naguru, Kampala. Among the items recovered were 9.4 kilogrammes of pangolin scales, two skinned pangolin carcasses, 167 cartons of smuggled premium cigarettes, and Shs27 million in cash.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| KAM_2024_11_Chinese pangolin merchants arrested over illegal wildlife trade_NilePost.pdf | 714.99 KB |
A senior officer in the UPDF, Lt. Col. Ariko Robert, 54 has been arrested in Katakwi while attempting to sell ivory. Ariko was arrested from his home in Africa village, Getom sub county, Katakwi district.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| UGA_2022_05_UPDF Lt Colonel arrested with ivory in Katakwi_Nile Post.pdf | 338.51 KB |