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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 - 40 of 40
Monday, 31 March 2025
Routh R 2025. Chinese 'mafia boss' runs out of funds for own defence.

The matter in which Chinese businessman Hou Xuecheng and his Namibian co-accused Hamutenja Hamutenya were summoned to appear on a count of dealing in controlled wildlife products from 2014, was put on hold again on Wednesday. This time, it is to allow Xuecheng, who is no stranger to the law, the opportunity to raise funds to pay for his lawyer, Kadhila Amoomo. The matter was already struck from the court roll on several occasions because the PG did not have her ducks in a row, and then re-enrolled.

Tuesday, 25 March 2025
2025. Luanda_AGT stops more than 500 pieces made of rhinoceros horn and ivory at the airport, which were destined for Vietnam.

The General Tax Administration (AGT) seized more than 500 pieces of rhinoceros horns and elephant teeth at the 4 de Fevereiro International Airport in Luanda, camouflaged inside three suitcases that were bound for Vietnam.

Tuesday, 25 March 2025
2025. Vietnamese engineers arrested on charges of criminal association,environmental assault and ivory trafficking.

According to the director of the institutional communication and press office of the general directorate of SIC, Manuel Halaiwa, the goods were on the construction site of a construction company, in the municipality of Camama. Two Vietnamese men, aged 36 and 43, both construction engineers, were arrested at the scene, indicted for the crimes of criminal association and environmental aggression.

Tuesday, 25 March 2025
2025. Angolan authorities make their second major wildlife trafficking arrest in a week.

For the second time in a week, Angolan authorities arrested two Vietnamese nationals on suspicion of illegal poaching and wildlife trafficking, preventing them from leaving the country with over 46 kilograms of elephant ivory, teeth and rhinoceros horns, reports Novo Jornal. The two individuals raised suspicions during check-in, leading authorities to track their movements through Luanda 4 de Fevereiro International Airport using CCTV surveillance.

Monday, 24 March 2025
Borchert P 2025. Why removing artificial water sources benefits elephants and their habitats.

Elephants need water - lots of it. Depending on their size, they must drink 100 to 200 litres at least every two to three days to avoid potentially severe dehydration. In hot weather, an elephant can lose as much as 7.5% of its body mass daily due to dehydration. So, water availability, particularly in dry seasons and drought, is critical to elephant survival. Water dictates where elephants roam, limiting their foraging range to areas close to rivers, lakes, pans, and other wetlands. For example, elephant herds with calves stray no further than 10 kilometres from water.

Monday, 24 March 2025
2025. Elephant tusk discovered in luggage at Geneva airport.

Customs officials at Geneva Airport discovered an elephant tusk in the luggage of a 68-year-old US citizen. The protected ivory was confiscated. A fine was also imposed. The American was stopped by customs officials last week as he was about to board a flight from Geneva airport, as the federal customs authorities announced on Wednesday. The employees of the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security had been alerted by the airport security service. Airport employees had reportedly discovered the ivory while x-raying luggage.

Saturday, 22 March 2025
Mojeed A 2025. Investigation: How conflict with humans endangers Nigeria's wild elephants.

Like the menace of farmer-herder clashes and kidnapping for ransom affecting many rural communities across Nigeria, the destruction of crops by elephants has become a significant problem for many farmers in Nigeria's tropical rainforest and savanna ecological zones. These elephants' activities are fueling hostile behaviours among locals and posing significant threats to the population of the elephants. The farmers who spoke to our correspondent did not admit to killing elephants, perhaps because they know that the law prohibits this.

Thursday, 20 March 2025
Cruise A 2025. Pie in the sky - why South Africa's Draft Elephant Heritage Strategy won't work.

The draft strategy is skewed in favour of anthropocentric benefits - economic, spiritual and cultural - and cannot function in practical terms. South Africa's Draft National Elephant Heritage Strategy, which closed to public comment at the end of February, demands that South Africa's elephants must depend on human social and economic development for their future survival.

Thursday, 20 March 2025
Ali N 2025. Poaching and trafficking on the rise in northern Kenya - threatening endangered giraffe, cheetah and more.
In the remote landscapes of northern Kenya, an alarming wave of poaching and smuggling is pushing iconic wildlife species toward the brink. From reticulated giraffes to hirolas and cheetahs, various endangered species are risking local extinction. A dangerous mix of armed poacher gangs, wildlife trafficking networks, and regional instability is fueling the crisis. With bushmeat demand rising and wildlife smuggling funding militia groups, conservationists warn that urgent action is needed to prevent local extinctions.
Thursday, 20 March 2025
Aprile D 2025. Africa is losing its elephants: the total population of this species has plummeted by 77% in the last 50 years.
Over the past five decades, Africa has witnessed an alarming decline in its elephant populations. A comprehensive study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) analyzed data from 475 sites in 37 African countries from 1964 to 2016, revealing that, on average, elephant populations have experienced a 77% decline.
Tuesday, 11 March 2025
2025. Vietnam launches anti-ivory trade campaign targeting tourists.

Vietnam has launched a public awareness campaign highlighting the illegality of ivory trade, specifically targeting international tourists, as part of its broader efforts to combat wildlife trafficking. The campaign is spearheaded by the Vietnam Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Management Authority, in collaboration with the World Wide Fund for Nature in Vietnam (WWF-Vietnam).

Tuesday, 11 March 2025
Menges W 2025. Appeal cuts Zambezi man's 9-year sentence for ivory dealing to 5 years.

Two Windhoek High Court judges have reduced an effective prison term of nine years to which a Zambezi region resident was sentenced for dealing in elephant tusks to five years’ imprisonment. Sipangule Kushonya's sentence was lowered in an appeal judgement delivered by judges Naomi Shivute and Philanda Christiaan yesterday. Kushonya (39) was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment, of which three years were suspended for a period of five years, in April 2022, after he had been found guilty in the Katima Mulilo Magistrate's Court on a charge of dealing in two elephant tusks.

Tuesday, 4 March 2025
2025. Elephant poaching a very real and growing threat in the Kruger Park.

On 31 December 2017, the ban on legal ivory trade in China, which represents the world's largest market for ivory, finally came into effect! This is the greatest single step toward reducing the brutal poaching which kills on average 100 elephants every day in Africa. Until recently South Africa had escaped ivory poachers trying to cash-in on the illicit global trade, which is estimated to be worth more than one billion dollars.

Tuesday, 4 March 2025
Ogunade F 2025. Africa: West African wildlife sanctuary becomes a hub of insecurity.

Spanning three countries, the vast W-Arly-Pendjari Complex is being used to facilitate organised crime, terrorism and local conflicts. The W-Arly-Pendjari (WAP) Complex is a vast wildlife sanctuary spanning the intersecting borders of Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger. With one of the most diverse ecosystems in West Africa's savanna belt, it is a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage Site and shelters threatened species such as cheetah, giraffe, wild dog, elephant, lion and leopard.

Tuesday, 4 March 2025
Smit E 2025. Report urges govt to cull problem wildlife to decrease conflict.

With rising cases of human-wildlife conflict across Namibia, a recent report has recommended that the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism introduce annual culling of problematic wildlife in all regions. This measure, determined by each region's carrying capacity, aims to reduce conflicts and safeguard both human lives and livelihoods. This recommendation is part of a report by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources on the Motion on Human-Wildlife Conflict.

Sunday, 2 March 2025
Wittemyer G 2025. Africa's elephants have been in dramatic decline for 50 years. What can be done to save them - new study.

Surveying elephants is hard, risky work. Dedicated biologists have been doing this challenging task across Africa for decades. Systematic surveying started in the late 1960s but has been sporadic, as access to remote areas takes logistical planning, funding and well-trained teams. Surveys can easily be derailed by civil unrest or lack of available survey teams. Consequently, the information on the numbers of elephants across Africa is spotty. Even for a single population, survey effort and coverage can change over the years.

Saturday, 31 July 2021
2021. Rhino poaching update as SA pays tribute to brave and fallen rangers.

Minister of Environment Barbara Creecy today released the latest rhino poaching statistics for South Africa, whilst also paying tribute to SANParks' rangers, including those rangers who tragically died over the past year. Minister of Environment Barbara Creecy today released the latest rhino poaching statistics for South Africa, whilst also paying tribute to SANParks’ rangers, including those rangers who tragically died over the past year.

Thursday, 29 July 2021
2021. Zimbabwe: Seven armed robbers, poachers arrested.

"Meanwhile, on July 25, 2021 at Chatseka area, Mutawatawa, Murewa, police also arrested Joseph Kabunze (67), Perfect Kabunze (29), Chatseka Mapuranga (39) and Makwanya Kahwiti (29) for unlawful possession of ivory." The arrest led to the recovery of 4 pieces of elephant tusks weighing 12,5kg valued at US$2 635.

Tuesday, 27 July 2021
Nakale A 2021. Nine rhinos poached in 2021.

Namibia has lost nine rhinos to poaching in various national parks this year, according to the environment ministry. The statistics show three black, and six white rhinos were poached this year alone. The three black rhinos were killed in the Etosha National Park, while six rhinos were poached for their horns at private-owned white rhino reserves. Environment spokesperson Romeo Muyunda also issued national elephant poaching statistics per year from 2014 to 2021.

Tuesday, 27 July 2021
Smit E 2021. Poaching numbers drop.

This year to date only four elephants have been poached in comparison to the 12 elephants that were poached last year. In 2014, when poaching started to increase in Namibia, 78 elephants were killed, peaking at 101 poached elephants in 2016.

Tuesday, 27 July 2021
2021. Elefanten- und Nashornwilderei nimmt über die Jahre ab.

Environment Ministry press secretary Romeo Muyunda announced the latest rhino and ivory poaching figures yesterday. According to this, the safety of the animals has improved somewhat over the past few years.

Tuesday, 27 July 2021
Hattingh E 2021. Stryd teen olifantstropery werp vrugte af.

Hoewel niemand nog in hegtenis geneem is in verband met die vier olifante wat vanjaar in Namibië gestroop is nie, toon Namibië oor die afgelope agt jaar 'n sterk afname in die stroping van dié bosreuse. Volgens syfers wat deur die ministerie van die omgewing, bosbou en toerisme bygehou word, blyk dit dat olifantstropery jaarliks verminder. Terwyl daar in 2016 tot bykans 101 olifante gestroop is, was dit in 2019 en 2020 onderskeidelik net 13 en 12 olifante.

Tuesday, 27 July 2021
Ndlovu B 2021. Four men suspected to be poachers arrested after being found with elephant tusks.

Four suspected poachers have been arrested after being found in possession of elephant tusks worth nearly US$3 000.

Monday, 26 July 2021
Reuters T 2021. Rhino and elephant poaching declines in Namibia.

Rhino and elephant poaching has declined significantly this year in Namibia, home to the only free-roaming black rhinos left in the world, government data showed on Monday. Nine rhinos have been illegally killed by hunters so far in 2021, the lowest number in eight years for the period, according to the figures from the ministry of environment and tourism. Four elephants have been killed this way, a five-year low

Friday, 23 July 2021
Gomes M 2021. Quissama Park tops list of poaching cases.

The Quissama National Park, in Luanda province, has been the preferred area for the practice of poaching of various species there, informed, on Wednesday, the coordinator of the Project to Combat the Illegal Trade of Wildlife and Human Conflict and Wildlife in Angola.

Friday, 23 July 2021
Hattingh E 2021. Stropers met sewe olifanttande gearresteer.

Twee mense is op Katima Mulilo en Kahenge met altesaam sewe olifanttande in hul besit betrap, terwyl nog twee mense gevang is toe hulle onderskeidelik luislangvelle en krokodilvelle van die hand wou sit.

Two people were caught on Katima Mulilo and Kahenge with a total of seven elephant tusks in their possession, while two more people were caught trying to dispose of python skins and crocodile skins respectively.

Thursday, 22 July 2021
Smit E 2021. 10 more arrested for wildlife crimes in July.

At Sangwali, a Namibian was arrested on 6 July for being in possession of one impala carcass. Oscar Munyandi was charged with illegal hunting of special protected species. In another matter, a Namibian, Simuna Kankona, was arrested on 12 July with two python skins, and charged for the illegal possession and dealing of controlled wildlife products. On 13 July, Mathews Hamusira, a Namibian citizen, was arrested at Rundu for being in possession of a pangolin skin.

Thursday, 22 July 2021
2021. Acht Festnahmen in einer Woche.

Eight suspects were arrested in connection with six wildlife crime cases in the past week. According to the Ministry of Environment's wildlife crime statistics, 13 wildlife products were confiscated. On July 12, a Namibian with two python skins was arrested. The following day, a Namibian national was arrested in Rundu for being in possession of a pangolin armor. A Zambian national with four tusks was also arrested in Katima Mulilo on July 15. On the same day, a man with three tusks was arrested in Kahenge, as well as a Namibian in Outjo, because he was in possession of an oryx…

Thursday, 22 July 2021
Sithole S 2021. Jealous man plants ivory in ex-wife's toilet.

A plot by a jealous Guruve man to get his ex-wife and her boyfriend imprisoned by planting ivory on her hit a snag after he was arrested for possession of ivory.

Monday, 19 July 2021
Chingarande D 2021. 2 nabbed for illegal possession of ivory.

Two unemployed Harare men appeared in court last week for illegal possession of ivory.

Friday, 16 July 2021
Smit E 2021. Nege verdagtes weens wildmisdaad vasgetrek.

Op 20 Junie is 'n Namibiër op Rundu in hegtenis geneem toe 'n ietermagovel in sy besit gevind is. By die Etosha Nasionale Park se King Nehale-hek is twee Namibiërs op 21 Junie in hegtenis geneem omdat hulle onwettig in die besit van 'n elandkarkas was. In 'n ander voorval by Omahenene is 'n Angolese burger en 'n Namibiër op 22 Junie in hegtenis geneem toe hulle met 22 ietermagovelle betrap is terwyl daar op 'n handwapen sowel as vyf rondes ammunisie beslag gelê is. Intussen is nog 'n Namibiër op 24 Junie op Oshakati in hegtenis geneem nadat hy met drie olifanttande…

Friday, 16 July 2021
Nyaga B 2021. Kenya: Ivory worth Ksh1.4M recovered in Kajiado County.

The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) in Kajiado has recovered four pieces of elephant tusks hidden in a bush in Torosei area, Kajiado Central. Weighing 14 kilograms and estimated at a street value of Ksh 1.4 million, the ivory was discovered by locals who informed their area Chief. KWS County Warden Vincent Ongwae said the ivory is suspected to have been sneaked into the country through the border, as there had been no reported cases of elephants killed in the recent past.

Thursday, 15 July 2021
2021. Wildtierprodukte beschlagnahmt.

Am 20. Juni wurde ein Namibier in Rundu verhaftet, weil er im Besitz eines Schuppentierpanzers war. Am König-Nehale-Tor des Etosha-Nationalparks wurden am 21. Juni zwei Namibier wegen illegalen Besitzes eines Elenantilopen-Kadavers verhaftet. Bei einem weiteren Vorfall beim Grenzkontrollposten Omahenene wurden am 22. Juni ein angolanischer Staatsbürger und ein Namibier mit 22 Schuppentierpanzern verhaftet, während ein Revolver sowie fünf Schuss scharfe Munition beschlagnahmt wurden. In der Zwischenzeit wurde in Oshakati am 24.

Wednesday, 14 July 2021
Smit E 2021. Nine arrested with 28 illegal wildlife products.

On 20 June, a Namibian was arrested at Rundu for being in the possession of a pangolin skin. At Etosha National Park's King Nehale gate, two Namibians were arrested on 21 June for illegally being in the possession of an eland carcass. In another incident at Omahenene, an Angolan national and a Namibian were arrested on 22 June with 22 pangolin skins, while a revolver pistol as well as five rounds of live ammunition were confiscated.

Wednesday, 14 July 2021
Makhurane B 2021. Two men found in possession of Ivory.

Two men from Bulawayo appeared in court for possessing about 16kg of ivory without a licence.

Wednesday, 14 July 2021
Muvundisi J 2021. Ivory suspect shifts blame to co-accused.

A Bulawayo man, who was arrested together with two other men for illegally dealing in ivory, has shifted the blame to his co-accused, claiming the tusks belonged to the duo.

Monday, 12 July 2021
Muiruri P 2021. From poacher to the end user - the intricate web of wildlife criminals.

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), most of the poachers come from poor communities and are just looking for food. Such ones use snares, wire traps, poisoned watermelons or nails to catch elephants, and spears as weapons to kill the trapped animals.

Thursday, 8 July 2021
Smith E, Reiter C 2021. Leichter Rückgang - Wildtierkriminalität dennoch eine Bedrohung.

In Namibia ging die Zahl der Wildtierverbrechen im vergangenen Jahr laut dem Umweltministerium leicht zurück. Dennoch bleibt dies weltweit ein Problem mit schwerwiegenden finanziellen Konsequenzen, so der jährliche Bericht des Internationalen Konsortiums zur Bekämpfung der Wildtierkriminalität (ICCWC).

Wednesday, 7 July 2021
2021. Ivory deal earns quartet lengthy jail terms.

Four men were each jailed for nine years after they were convicted of illegally possessing raw ivory which they intended to trade in Harare sometime last year.

Monday, 5 July 2021
2021. Zimbabwe: Trio in court for ivory possession.

Three men from Lupane appeared in court for possessing about 6kg of ivory without a licence.

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