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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Rustenburg, South Africa (25 July 2025) – A life has been spared from continued suffering thanks to the compassion and quick action of an individual who chose to take action rather than turn away. In the heart of Seraleng, a kind community member spotted a young pangolin wandering in distress and immediately called the SPCA Rustenburg for help on Wednesday.
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SA_2025_07_One call saves distressed pangolin Faith from wildlife traffickers_Good Things Guy.pdf | 402.16 KB |
Another rhino was sadly killed at a private game reserve in the Pongola area on Thursday evening. The rhino bull was found dead, but this time around, the horns were still intact. Police suspect that the poachers may have only wounded the animal and it ran away to die somewhere else. Rangers found the rhino on Friday morning and contacted the police. Last week was full moon, oddly enough known as 'Poacher’s Moon'. There is also a known link between rhino poaching and the full moon, which is that anti-poaching teams actively monitor on these nights.
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SA_2025_06_Rhino killed during full moon in Pongola_Citizen.pdf | 208.81 KB |
The National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) has warned that little to no progress has been made in shutting down South Africa's captive lion breeding industry, despite a series of government commitments and legal recommendations. During a briefing to the portfolio committee on environment, forestry and fisheries on Tuesday, National Chief Inspector Douglas Wolhuter said that "nothing has changed" - highlighting ongoing welfare violations and a continued lack of enforcement, despite a government-backed plan to phase out lion farming.
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SA_2025_06_Lion breeding industry remains unchanged despite government promises_NSPCA_Citizen.pdf | 231.18 KB |
The police in Skukuza have arrested two male Mozambican nationals, aged 29 and 38, for possession of an unlicensed firearm and ammunition, as well as for trespassing in the Houtboschrand Ranger area in the Kruger National Park (KNP). The men were arrested on Thursday, May 8.
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SA_2025_05_Two suspected poachers arrested in the Kruger National Park_Citizen.pdf | 115.06 KB |
In the Eastern Cape, Justin Terblanche is known for his love of rhinos. The anti-poacher shares that he's known as the 'Rhino Whisperer' in the area and that his life's mission lies in protecting the gentle giants who once roamed the Earth with far more freedom and in far greater numbers. "Losing [rhinos] would leave an irreplaceable void in the natural world," says Justin. "If we don’t act now, future generations may never see a rhino roaming wild." Working at Lombardini Game Farm, Justin has seen first-hand the impact of poaching. The land was once home to 19 rhinos.
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SA_2025_05_Anti_poacher on a mission to ramp up rhino protection_Good Things Guy.pdf | 116.56 KB |
The tides may finally be turning for Pangolins, often referred to as one of the most exploited creatures on Earth. In a move that's sending waves through conservation communities, China has announced that it will remove Guilingji, a traditional medicine containing pangolin ingredients, from its official 2025 Pharmacopoeia. The decision, confirmed in the revised edition released on the 25th of March, signals a significant step forward in wildlife protection and aligns with a growing global push to end the use of endangered animals in medicine.
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INT_2025_04_A gentle creature_a brutal trade_and finally_a reason to hope_Good things guy.pdf | 89.53 KB |
An anti-poaching K9 Camp was officially opened at the Mdluli Safari Lodge in the Kruger National Park (KNP) on Tuesday, April 23.The camp, whose opening coincided with International Earth Day 2025, will be a base of operations for rangers and their well-trained dogs, working together in the fight against poaching in the KNP. The executive manager of Mdluli Safari Lodge, Chris Schalkwyk, said the establishment of the special K9 Camp proves that with good relationships and local and international co-operation, a huge difference can be made in conservation.
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SA_2025_04_Anti_poaching K9 Camp opens in Kruger National Park_Citizen.pdf | 328.93 KB |
Fifteen people accused of financial crimes related to rhino poaching briefly appeared in the Nelspruit Commercial Crimes Court on Monday. Among the accused were two former field rangers and some of their relatives. While the majority of the respondents appear to be from a humble background, almost all of them are represented by private advocates. Although the State was ready to commence with trial proceedings, the matter was provisionally postponed to February 27 for possible pretrial conference.
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SA_2025_01_15 accused of rhino poaching_linked financial crimes appear in Mbombela court_Citizen.pdf | 177.14 KB |
Two endangered Egyptian Vultures have landed in the Eastern Cape after a 16,600km journey, marking a pivotal step in a groundbreaking conservation effort to bring this species back from extinction in South Africa. Eastern Cape, South Africa (19 November 2024) – In a groundbreaking step for African wildlife conservation, a pair of endangered Egyptian Vultures has completed an epic 16,600-kilometre journey from San Diego to their new home in the Eastern Cape.
For the third time this year, a group of southern white rhinos have made a big move as part of an even bigger initiative that’s giving the future of their species hope! Rhino Rewild plans to move 2000 rhinos to safer locations in the next ten years, and they are well on their way.
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SA_2024_11_More southern white rhino move as part of massive rewilding initiative_GoodThingsGuy.pdf | 457.75 KB |
The Special Wildlife Office of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, has intercepted a 40-foot container of illegal wildlife products in Vietnam. Three suspects were also arrested in connection with the crime, barely six weeks after a similar seizure by Vietnam authorities. The Nigeria Customs Service, in a statement made available to newsmen, and signed by Asst. Comptroller Abimbola Isafiade, said the operation was conducted by the combined efforts of the officers of the Federal Operations Unit, FOU, Zone C, in a joint enforcement operation with the Wildlife Justice Commission, WJC…
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NIG_2024_05_Customs intercepts 40_ft container of illegal wildlife products_Daily Post.pdf | 439.1 KB |