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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 - 10 of 10
Friday, 26 September 2025
Hlatshwayo R 2025. Skukuza court postpones one of the longest rhino poaching cases.

The Skukuza Regional Court has postponed the poaching case against Rodney Landela and Kenneth Motshotsho to November 27 and 28 for the defence's case. Mpumalanga News reports that Landela and Motshotsho, both former employees of the Kruger National Park (KNP), briefly appeared in court yesterday. Their bail of R20 000 each was extended pending their next appearance. The two suspects were both 52 years old at the time of their arrest on July 27, 2016, following the killing and dehorning of a white rhino in the Kingfisherspruit region of the KNP.

Thursday, 11 September 2025
2025. South Africa: Two rhinos killed and one injured in poaching attack near Paulpietersburg, as poaching crisis intensifies.

In what is being treated as another poaching incident, game rangers at a private reserve near Paulpietersburg discovered two dead rhinos and a third one wounded on Monday. The horns of the two dead rhinos had been removed. This gruesome discovery follows a previous incident at the same reserve on July 25, when rhinos were also targeted by poachers. In connection with that case, three men - Simanga Mnguni (42), Betwell Baloye (27) and Muziwakhe Nkosi (38) - were arrested and scheduled to face a bail hearing in the Vryheid District Court on August 14.

Tuesday, 11 February 2025
2025. One man arrested after two rhino killings.

Another two rhinos were killed and their horns cut off and thus despite the efforts of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife’s attempts to dehorn rhinos in KZN as quickly as possible to try and curb the bloodlust killings of rhinos for their horns. The two rhinos were killed in the Pongola area, the exact location of the poaching is known the Vryheid Herald but due to safety reasons will not be disclosed. On January 28 there were reports of shots that were fired in a game reserve. Police together with several other security entities swept the area and found two rhino carcasses without their…

Thursday, 16 January 2025
Hlatshwayo R 2025. Fraud-accused former Skukuza cop also faces rhino poaching-related charges.

The former police constable who appeared in the KaBokweni Magistrate's Court on fraud charges on January 8 is also an accused in several rhino poaching-related cases. According to Mpumalanga News, Thembi Aretha Mhlanga (47) is one of four accused, alongside alleged rhino poaching kingpin Joseph 'Big Joe' Nyalungu, Claude Lubisi, and Rachel Qwebana. In her latest legal trouble, Mhlanga was arrested with Sarel Sithole (37) after allegedly swapping a bank card belonging to a 71-year-old woman.

Thursday, 17 October 2024
2024. Warehouse raids in Nigeria lead to historic seizure of over 9.4 tonnes of stockpiled pangolin scales.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), with support from the Wildlife Justice Commission, successfully conducted two major operations on 8 August 2024, resulting in the combined seizure of over 9.4 tonnes of pangolin scales and arrests of four suspects. These operations mark a significant achievement in the ongoing efforts to dismantle wildlife trafficking networks in Nigeria.
Tuesday, 16 July 2024
Joint operation leads to four arrests and major seizure of pangolin scales in Liberia.
In a coordinated effort, the Special Wildlife Investigations Unit (SWIU), supported by Focused Conservation and the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC), successfully conducted a joint operation resulting in the arrest of four suspects and the seizure of 525 kilograms of pangolin scales in Monrovia, Liberia, on 10 July 2024. The SWIU is comprised of officers from the Liberian National Police, Forestry Development Authority (FDA) and the Liberia Revenue Authority Customs Department and is mentored in Liberia by Focused Conservation.
Friday, 24 May 2024
Dennis P 2024. Major breakthrough: Nigerian authorities arrest two key ivory traffickers connected to recent seizure in Vietnam.

In a landmark joint operation, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), supported by the Wildlife Justice Commission has successfully arrested two major wildlife traffickers in Nigeria. These arrests are linked to the significant seizure of 1.58 tonnes of ivory at Lach Huyen International Port, Hai Phong, Vietnam on 27 March 2024. Comprehensive intelligence-led investigations by the Wildlife Justice Commission in response to the Hai Phong seizure led to the identification and location of both the alleged shipper and supplier of the ivory.

Saturday, 16 December 2023
Viljoen B 2023. Alleged rhino poaching kingpin Big Joe granted bail.

An alleged rhino poacher who has been in custody for the past six months was granted bail last week.

Tuesday, 31 October 2023
2023. Graphic photos: Rhinos shot and killed on Limpopo farm.

Another two rhinos have paid the ultimate price as a result of ongoing poaching.The circumstances surrounding the poaching of two rhinos on a Limpopo farm are being investigated by the Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit. Rooiberg police, in the Waterberg District, have launched a manhunt for unknown perpetrators involved in the poaching of two rhinos on Pomo Estate.

Friday, 25 August 2023
Mojela A 2023. Female pangolin and baby rescued from poachers in the Northern Cape.

A mission to rescue a pangolin confiscated in Kuruman in the Northern Cape led to a Limpopo foundation sponsoring a flight to the Northern Cape to have it treated at Provet Animal Hospital in Hoedspruit. Provet Animal Hospital said on Facebook that a female Temminck’s ground pangolin was confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade and upon assessment, the veterinarian in Kuruman discovered that she was clutching a newborn pup, a little male, still wrapped in the afterbirth.

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