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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.

Explore your search results using the filter checkboxes, or amend your search or start a new search.

Displaying results 1 - 7 of 7
Tuesday, 27 June 2023
Pienaar W 2023. Police nab 4 for possession of elephant tusks near Potchefstroom.

A tip-off was received and officers from various task teams worked together to effect the arrests on the N12. A joint police operation has resulted in the arrest of four suspects after they were found in possession of three elephant tusks. The arrest took place on Saturday on the N12 near Potchefstroom. According to North-West police spokesperson Captain Aafje Botma, the arrest emanated from a follow-up made on intelligence received earlier that day.

Monday, 19 June 2023
2023. Suspected ivory poachers in court.

Two suspected poachers who were selling four ivory tusks have appeared in court.

Thursday, 15 June 2023
Chioma U 2023. Court convicts Clearing Agent arrested with container load of pangolin scales, elephant tusks.

The convicted clearing agents, according to the prosecutors, David Ereh and Mike Osong, was arrested on January, 2021, at Apapa Port, Lagos, for being in possession of 1X20ft Container marked CSLU 2362640, containing 158 sacks of pangolin scales and 57 sacks of elephant ivory, horns and bones.

Tuesday, 6 June 2023
Shekighenda L 2023. Tanzania: Anti-poaching drive pays off.

Dr Chana added that in Ruaha - Rungwa ecological system buffalo population has increased by 80 per cent, zebra 36 per cent and antelope 65 per cent compared to the census conducted in 2018. "The black rhino which are among the endangered species have increased by 27.5 per cent compared to their population in 2018," Dr Chana said. "The increase in wildlife population is an indication of strengthened security and management of conserved ar- eas," she added. The minister said that the achievements have been also contributed by the government efforts to conduct patrols…

Thursday, 31 August 2017
2017. Penalties for poaching.

Since 2012, after more than two decades of low numbers of poaching incidents involving elephant and rhino, Namibia has experienced an alarming increase in the poaching of these two species. The Ministry of Environment and Tourism recently reported that a total of 245 elephants were poached between 2014 and 2017, while a total of 241 rhino were poached between 2012 and 2017.

Friday, 11 August 2017
2017. Chinese underworld exposed.

Chinese 'mafia' groups are said to be driving unprecedented wildlife crime and environmental destruction in Namibia. The unprecedented growth of Chinese immigration has brought with it the feared Chinese organised crime syndicates called triads, who are working in cahoots with Namibian crime syndicates, a renowned private investigator has observed. Andrew Fordred claims these Chinese criminals are not entrepreneurs seeking to make a quick, if dishonest, buck. Instead, they are part of ancient and well-organised criminal groups with "fierce internal discipline".

Friday, 11 August 2017
Nhongo K 2017. Outrage over N$20,000 ivory smuggling fine.

Environmentalists and conservation groups have expressed their dismay over the decision by the Windhoek High Court to fine two ivory smugglers only N$20,000, saying such a slap on the wrist defeats Government’s efforts to curb poaching.

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