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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Muyunda said even though Namibia continues to record successes in the fight against wildlife crime, poaching of highly valued species remains a concern. In 2022 to date, Namibia recorded 63 rhinos poached cases in the country consisting of 41 black rhinos and 22 white rhinos. "This year’s poaching cases include 15 rhinos poached on custodianship farms, another 22 on private farms, and 26 in the Etosha National Park.
THE Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism (MEFT) has recorded 63 rhinos poached since the start of the year, of which 41 are black rhinos and 22 are white rhinos. Spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said this year’s poaching cases include 15 rhinos poached on custodianship farms, another 22 on private farms, and 26 in the Etosha National Park. In previous years, 44 rhinos were recorded poached in 2021, 42 in 2020, 57 in 2019, 83 in 2018, and 55 in 2017.
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NAM_2022_11_More rhinos poached than elephants_Informante.pdf | 62.56 KB |
The environment and tourism ministry says even though it continues to record successes in its fight against wildlife crime, poaching of highly valued species remains a concern. Ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda over the weekend said 63 rhinos have been poached in the country this year alone. This includes 41 black rhinos and 22 white rhinos. This year’s poaching cases include 15 rhinos poached on custodianship farms, another 22 on private farms and 26 in the Etosha National Park.
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NAM_2022_11_Poaching remains unabated_New Era.pdf | 266.55 KB |
Two men were arrested for the possession of stolen firearms, ivory and other property on Friday in Cape St Francis.
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SA_2022_11_Men nabbed with stolen firearms and ivory_HeraldLIVE.pdf | 248.71 KB |
Two Zimbabwean nationals were arrested after crossing into South Africa on a boat and were found in possession of a pangolin and an elephant tusk.
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SA_2022_11_Zimbabweans arrested at border with an elephant tusk and pangolin_ReviewOnline.pdf | 328.71 KB |
No elephant has been killed by poachers in five years in the Gorongosa National Park, located in the central Mozambican province of Sofala. This information was provided on October 20, 2022 in Maputo by the head of the Department of Conservation in the National Park, Ângelo Levi, during a debate on the theme The Challenges of Conservation of Animal and Forest Life, promoted by Nedbank Mozambique, as part of the commemorations of World Animal Day.
A Chinese national was on Wednesday November 16, found dead in his apartment at Sunshine Court, Valley Arcade in Nairobi's Lavington area. According to police, the matter was reported to the Muthangari police station by the deceased's friend, Hoang Thi Diut. Officers reportedly found 78 pieces of elephant ivory, two pieces of rhino horns, two pieces of ivory sculptures, a piece of animal skin, 65 pieces of lion teeth and 160 pieces of lion claws.
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KEN_2022_11_Chinese Man Found Dead in Lavington Game Trophies Recovered_Kenyans_co_ke.pdf | 260.42 KB |
The multi-billion-dollar industry of illegally trafficking wildlife was front and center in federal court on Tuesday morning. The Homeland Security investigation led to two foreign nationals being arrested in Edmonds in November of 2021. On Tuesday, Herdade Lokua learned he would spend the next 20 months in prison, and Jospin Mujangi was sentenced to 14 months. The investigation led to the seizure of $3.5 million worth of elephant ivory, white rhinoceros horn, and pangolin scales.
Kameras sal Etosha help polisieer. Die land se gewysigde oorkoepelende plan teen wildmisdade wil eenvormige benadering vir doeltreffende afdwing van wette verseker.
Cameras will help police Etosha. The country's amended overarching plan against wildlife crimes seeks to ensure a uniform approach to effective law enforcement.
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NAM_2022_06_Meer bronne nodig teen stropery_Republikein.pdf | 513.39 KB |
NAM_2022_06_More resources needed against poaching_Republikein_Eng_2022.pdf | 410.24 KB |
In late June 2002, the container ship MOL Independence docked at a Singapore port after a voyage of almost a month from Durban in South Africa. On board was a consignment which had been on a far longer journey. Beginning in an industrial area on the outskirts of Lilongwe, the capital of landlocked Malawi in southern Africa, the container was taken by road to the port of Beira in neighboring Mozambique and loaded onto a feeder vessel to Durban. According to the Bill of Lading, its contents were stone sculptures.
Liberian Moazu Kromah - known as "Kampala Man" - led one of the most active wildlife-trafficking syndicates on the African continent before his arrest in the Ugandan capital in February 2017. Just more than five years later, in March 2022, more than 11,000km away from the city in which he based his operation and from which his alias derives, Kromah quietly entered into a plea bargain with the Southern District of New York (SDNY), which is known for tackling high-profile organised crime and corruption cases.
The Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF) and Conservation Strategy Fund (CSF) recently announced a long-term landmark partnership focused on better comprehending the current state of knowledge about the illegal wildlife trade (IWT), and the economics of IWT in southern Africa.
New strategy aimed at defining common approaches for the protection and conservation of wildlife and to ensure the effective enforcement of laws governing wildlife resources in Namibia.
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NAM_2022_06_Wildlife protection gaps identified_Namibian Sun.pdf | 552.81 KB |
From the investigations, it is believed that villagers in the area collude with people from other regions in trapping and killing the giraffe, while crossing the Mswakini and Kwakuchinja wildlife corridors.
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TAN_2022_06_Why giraffe killings are top on poachers hit list in Manyara_The Citizen.pdf | 494.31 KB |
In Katavi National Park, like other protected areas in Tanzania, wildlife poaching is a serious challenge. This is because the park has no fence, and any person can easily enter and kill animals if he is lucky enough to walk out uncaught. According to the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) website, more elephants are dying from poaching than from natural causes or conflict with humans.
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TAN_2022_06_Trafficking crackdown pays off in Tanzania_Oxpeckers.pdf | 1.13 MB |
Ongwediva - A daring raid inside Namibia's most popular and well-protected national parks by poachers left a suspect and a police officer fighting for their lives. The attempt by poachers was foiled by police on Thursday around 04h40 and two suspected poachers were arrested. When the police approached, the would-be poachers opened fire on the security personnel resulting in the officers responding with more fire. A 19-old-year old suspected poacher and a 37-year-old police officer were injured during the exchange of fire.
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NAM_2022_06_Police_poacher injured in shootout_New Era.pdf | 373.05 KB |
More than 40% of the 987 suspects arrested in connection with elephant and rhino wildlife crimes over the past five years are currently free on bail. Statistics show that 415 of the close to 1 000 persons arrested on elephant and rhino crime charges were released on bail, while only 142 of those detained since 2017 have been convicted of their crimes to date. Meanwhile, more than 87% of the 987 arrested suspects are Namibians. This is according to statistics shared by deputy commissioner Barry de Klerk, head of the protected resources division and the Blue Rhino Task Team.
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NAM_2022-06_Only 142 convicted for poaching since 2017_Namibian Sun.pdf | 665.21 KB |
Meer as 40% van die 987 verdagtes wat sedert 2017 weens olifant- en renosterwildmisdade in hegtenis geneem is, is op borgtog vrygelaat. Statistieke toon 415 van dié verdagtes is tans op borgtog, terwyl slegs 142 skuldig bevind is. Daarbenewens is meer as 87% Namibiërs. Die hoof van die eenheid vir beskermde hulpbronne en die Blou Renoster-taakspan, adj.komm. Barry de Klerk, het dié statistieke by die Nasionale Belanghebbersforum oor Wildmisdaad en Wetstoepassing gedeel.
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NAM_2022-06_142 in vyf skuldig jaar bevind aan stropery_Republikein.pdf | 650.42 KB |
NAM_2022_06_142 convicted in five years of poaching_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 407.36 KB |
By building these new campgrounds, ZimParks wants to prevent a repeat of the 2013 massacre of more than 120 elephants who were poisoned by poachers. Farawo said when the elephants were poisoned, it was difficult for ZimParks to move from the main camp to the site. He added that having on-site housing would also make it easier for rangers to respond to wildlife affecting nearby communities. One of the closest communities to the park is the district of Tsholotsho, which is about 10 kilometers away. Farawo said building Makona will ensure rangers can protect elephants.
The exploits of three Kenyans charged in a US court with ivory and rhino horn trafficking have brought the war against poaching back to focus. Abubakar Mansur Mohammed Surur, 62, who pleaded guilty to poaching charges in a US court, and his accomplices made Sh864.8 million in seven years from the illegal sale of ivory and rhinoceros horns.
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KEN_2022_06_Intensify war on poaching_Business Daily.pdf | 496.73 KB |
A Kenyan has pleaded guilty to conspiring to traffic in rhino horns and elephant ivory in a in Manhattan Federal Court. According to Southern District of New York U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, Mansur Mohamed Surur was involved in the illegal poaching of more than approximately 35 rhinoceros and more than 100 elephants.