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.
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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.
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SA_2025_09_Skukuza court postpones one of the longest rhino poaching cases_Caxton Network News.pdf | 162.97 KB |
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.
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SA_2025_01_Fraud_accused former Skukuza cop also faces rhino poaching_related charges_Caxton.pdf | 152.68 KB |
The Cullinan Stock Theft and Endangered Species (STES) Unit successfully Dismantle Endangered Species Trafficking Operation. On Friday, 28 June 2024, the Cullinan STES unit conducted a successful undercover operation resulting in the arrest of two suspects for the possession of endangered species. The operation was initiated after receiving information that two pangolins were being offered for sale in Mabopane. The suspects aged 43 and 45 were arrested and four cell phones and two pangolins were seized. The pangolins were taken to the Johannesburg Wildlife Hospital for care.
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SA_2024_07_Police nab two suspects in possession of Pangolins_SAPS.pdf | 119.43 KB |
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.
An alleged rhino poacher who has been in custody for the past six months was granted bail last week.
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SA_2023_12_Alleged rhino poaching kingpin Big Joe granted bail_Caxton Network News.pdf | 213.67 KB |
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.
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SA_2023_10_Graphic photos_Rhinos shot and killed on Limpopo farm_Caxton News.pdf | 210.45 KB |
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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SA_2023_08_Female pangolin and baby rescued from poachers in the Northern Cape_CAXTON Network News.pdf | 307.04 KB |
On 4 August 2021 at about 08:00 a suspect was apprehended after he was found in possession of a pangolin at his farm house under Lephalale policing area.
Northern Cape-The Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation has resulted in the arrest of a 48-year-old suspect for allegedly trading in a pangolin. The suspect who originates from Botswana was arrested on Tuesday after information surfaced that he intended selling a pangolin that is an endangered species. A sting operation resulted in the suspect being arrested after he was found in possession of the said pangolin.
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SA_2020-06_Services_SAPS.pdf | 134.41 KB |
The Provincial Commissioner of Police in Limpopo, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe has welcomed the conviction and sentencing of three rhino poaching accused, including two Zimbabwean nationals by the Mahwelereng Regional Court on 31 March 2025.
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SA_2025_04_South African Police Service_SAPS.pdf | 59.08 KB |