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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 - 18 of 18
Friday, 29 November 2024
2024. Mysterious mass elephant die-off 'probably caused by toxic water'.

Satellite data analysis suggests climate-induced algal blooms could be behind hundreds of deaths in Botswana that sparked flurry of theories in 2020More than 350 elephants that died in mysterious circumstances probably drank toxic water, according to a new paper that warns of an "alarming trend" in climate-induced poisoning.The deaths in Botswana's Okavango delta were described by scientists as a "conservation disaster". Elephants of all ages were seen walking in circles before collapsing and dying.

Thursday, 28 November 2024
Mukube I 2024. New community courts to advance restorative justice - Dausab.

The minister said the court enables the swift prosecution for offenses such as wildlife trafficking, illegal logging and pollution, aligning with national and international efforts to safeguard the environment.

Thursday, 21 November 2024
Koro E 2024. U.S. Appeals Court's decision on ivory, Rhino horn sales may signal reopening of international trade.
U.S. Appeals Court's decision on ivory, Rhino horn sales may signal reopening of international trade.
Thursday, 14 November 2024
Smit E 2024. Africa's elephants in need.

A study has found that data collected over a period of 53 years on elephant populations in Africa show that a dramatic decline in elephant populations has been recorded over the period. This study concludes that habitat loss and poaching are the reason for the dramatic decline in African elephants. However, the study, "Survey based inference of continental African elephant decline," published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that it was difficult to measure the numbers for the entire continent and to monitor changes accurately.

Wednesday, 13 November 2024
Odindo N 2024. Kenya: 2 Tanzanians arrested for alleged smuggling of tusks valued at KSh 3.3m.

Police officers from Mtwapa Police Station, along with Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) officers, have arrested two Tanzanian nationals allegedly involved in the illegal ivory trade. Paul Kuya and Paul Telek were nabbed from their hideout in Majengo, Mtwapa. The suspects, identified as Paul Kuya (36) and Paul Telek (29), were apprehended in a hideout in the Majengo area of Mtwapa, where authorities uncovered eleven elephant tusks weighing 32.924 kilograms. How did officers recover the tusks? The tusks, valued at KSh 3.3 million, were packed in nylon sacks and concealed in three…

Wednesday, 13 November 2024
Dasgupta S 2024. African elephants declining - but some areas show promise.

Across the African continent, elephant populations have largely declined over the past several decades, but some areas show hopeful signs of recovery, according to a new study. Researchers have monitored the numbers of forest and savanna elephants (Loxodonta cyclotis, L. africana) in different parts of Africa since the 1960s. However, few stud ies have compiled all the survey data collected over decades, across the continent, George Wittemyer, study co-author and conservation biologist at Colorado State University, U.S., told Mongabay by email.

Monday, 11 November 2024
2024. 53 years of survey data confirm African elephant decline.

Habitat loss and poaching have driven dramatic declines in African elephants, but it is challengingto measure their numbers and monitor changes across the entire continent. A new study hasanalyzed 53 years of population survey data and found large-scale declines in most populations ofboth species of African elephants. From 1964–2016, forest elephant populations decreased on average by 90%, and savanna elephantpopulations fell on average by 70%. In combination, populations declined by 77% on average.

Friday, 19 May 2023
2023. Work underway to fight wildlife crime.

Government is working around the clock to fight wildlife crime and corruption, especially in the Kruger National Park, says Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister, Barbara Creecy.

Friday, 19 May 2023
2023. Endangered Species Day: Nigeria needs strong laws, enforcement to protect endangered species-Wild Africa Fund.

The non-profit called on Nigerians to protect Nigeria's endangered species while urging the federal government to pass the Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill as the world marks Endangered Species Day, an annual event to celebrate and take action to protect threatened and endangered species. Nigeria is home to numerous wild animals such as pangolins, lions, chimpanzees, elephants, gorillas, vultures, manatees, and parrots.

Sunday, 14 May 2023
van der Walt I-M 2023. Vermeende stroper in been geskiet.

'n Klag van poging tot moord is by die polisie aangemeld ná 'n man glo in die been geskiet is toe polisieen bewaringsbeamptes van die omgewingsministerie drie verdagtes agtervolg het. Die verdagtes het glo in verskeie rigtings te voet probeer wegkom en in die proses is waarskuwingskote glo afgevuur. Een van die skoté het klaarblyklik een van die verdagtes getref. Hy is na die hospitaal geneem en polisie het beslag gelê op die olifanttande wat die verdagtes glo gestroop het.

Sunday, 14 May 2023
van der Walt I-M 2023. Alleged poached shot in leg.

A charge of attempted murder has been reported to the police after a man was allegedly shot in the leg when police and conservation officers pursued three suspects. The suspects reportedly attempted to escape on foot in various directions, and warning shots were apparently fired in the process. One of the shots apparently hit one of the suspects. He was taken to the hospital, and the police seized the elephant tusks that the suspects allegedly poached.

Sunday, 14 May 2023
van der Walt I-M 2023. Mutmaßlicher Wilderer mit Schuss ins Bein.

Die Verdächtigen sollen versucht haben, zu Fuß in verschiedene Richtungen zu fliehen, und dabei sollen Warnschüsse abgegeben worden sein. Einer der Schüsse soll einen der Verdächtigen getroffen haben. Er wurde ins Krankenhaus gebracht, und die Polizei beschlagnahmte die Elefantenstoßzähne, die die Verdächtigen angeblich gewildert hatten.

Saturday, 13 May 2023
Ndlovu B 2023. Pair nabbed with elephant tusks.

Two men in Victoria Falls, Matabeleland North province have been arrested after police found them with a pair of elephant tusks on Thursday.

Thursday, 11 May 2023
2023. Killing of rhinos remains illegal.

"There are conservation policies in the Ministry that deal with those illegal actions of poaching. Rhinos are protected by the Controlled Wildlife Products and Trade Act Nine (9) of 2008, which still contains penalties widely viewed as being woefully inadequate in light of the value of the illegal trade in animal products such as elephant tusks, rhino horn and pangolin scales", Muyunda stressed.

Wednesday, 10 May 2023
2023. Tanzanian among 2 arrested with 81 kilos of elephant tusks in Makueni.

The tusks had a street value of more than Sh8 million, officials said In Summary: Despite a ban on the international trade in ivory, African elephants are still being poached in large numbers; As part of efforts to stop the crime, Kenya has started using high-tech surveillance equipment including drones to track poaching gangs. Two men including a Tanzanian national were arrested while transporting 81.7 kilograms of elephant tusks in Mukaa area, Makueni County.

Wednesday, 10 May 2023
2023. Man wanted for illegal hunting of elephant near Ruacana.

The Namibian police in the Omusati Region are seeking to arrest a known suspect who allegedly shot and killed an elephant on Sunday in the Onamwege village in the Ruacana constituency. The suspect is wanted for several criminal charges, including violating the Nature Conservation Ordinance 4 of 1975, as amended, and the Arms and Ammunition Act 7 of 1996. According to reports, the suspect killed the elephant without a permit using a 303 rifle and ammunition for which he has no license.

Wednesday, 3 May 2023
Muyamba J 2023. Elephant killed, tusks removed.

Police in Zambezi region are investigating a case of hunting of specially protected game and theft of elephant tusks after a decomposed elephant was discovered. It is alleged that unknown suspect(s) poached and killed an elephant, and removed its tusks between 16 to 22 April 2023 near Dzudzo farming area in Dzoti conservancy of Zambezi region. "A decomposed carcass was recovered at Dzudzo area on Friday, 28 April 2023 and it seemed to have been killed two weeks back from the date of recovery. The elephant is valued at N$29 000," the police said no arrest has been made yet.

Tuesday, 2 May 2023
2023. Elephant poaching down in Zimbabwe reserve thanks to ranger support.

In the decade following possibly one of the worst poaching incidents in Southern Africa, which left at least 300 dead after poachers laced watering holes and salt licks with cyanide, crimes against wildlife have drastically declined in Zimbabwe's largest national park. Investigations conducted by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) revealed that the deaths were due to cyanide poisoning. The horrendous crime, which made international headlines in 2013, led to the deaths of an estimated 300 elephants and is believed to…

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