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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 - 9 of 9
Thursday, 29 August 2024
Cruise A 2024. Why is Namibia going to kill its endangered desert elephants?.

Namibia intends to "cull" 21 elephants in the dry north-west of the country where a small population of desert elephants roam In a statement issued on Monday, the Namibian Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) said they plan to cull 723 wild animals, including 83 elephants, across the country and to distribute the meat to local people as a drought relief program. The so-called cull will take place in national parks and communal areas where authorities believe animal numbers exceed available grazing land and water supplies amid the ongoing drought.

Wednesday, 21 August 2024
Bridger B 2024. Kenya: Suspected trafficker found with 185 pounds of elephant tusk.

A joint ambush conducted by Kenya's Wildlife Service and members of the DCI Serious Crime Unit has resulted in the arrest of 57-year-old Sila Waweu in Kiambu county. Waweu, who was accompanied by three others, was caught in Kenya's southern Kibwezi area with a bag containing 185 pounds of elephant tusks worth an estimated $65,000, while his accomplices managed to evade arrest.

Monday, 19 August 2024
Haidula T 2024. Authorities vow tough action against poachers.

Oshikoto police regional commander Commissioner Teopolina Kalompo-Nashikaku has issued a stern warning to poachers, saying they risk their lives by engaging with armed anti-poaching units. Without mincing her words, she warned that the authorities are committed to protecting the country's fauna and flora and said poachers risk their own lives if they shoot at security personnel deployed to safeguard wildlife species.

Monday, 12 August 2024
Cruise A 2024. Botswana: Sharp spike in elephant poaching - 'Someone is dropping the ball here'.

There has been a dramatic increase in elephant poaching in northern Botswana, with little official concern about reports of the poaching. An aerial survey in July revealed 19 poached carcasses, bringing the total to 105 since October2023. Mary Rice, Executive Director of the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), warns that "the increasingnumber of elephant poaching incidents being documented inBotswana should be of real concern to the widerconservation community".

Monday, 5 August 2024
2024. FG vows to eradicate wildlife trafficking.

The federal government has unveiled the sculpture of an elephant crafted from crushed elephant tusks and ivory stockpiles. Speaking during the unveiling the minister of state for Environment , Dr. Iziaq Salako stated that the event was a signal of Nigeria’s zero tolerance for wild like trafficking. The minister stated that on January 9, 2024, Nigeria took a giant step by publicly destroying 2.5 tonnes of confiscated elephant tusks and ivory.

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…

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