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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 - 14 of 14
Monday, 30 June 2025
David M 2025. Elderly man arrested for poaching.

A 73-year-old man was reportedly arrested for illegal hunting at Otjomupanda village on Friday. According to a police crime report issued on Sunday, the incident occurred around 14:40 during a joint police operation. It is alleged that police conducted a search at the suspect’s residence, where they discovered a kudu carcass valued at N$6,000. A rifle believed to have been used in the poaching incident was also reportedly found at the scene.

Monday, 30 June 2025
Simelane L 2025. A threat to vultures is a threat to people: Inside Kruger's vulture poisoning crisis.

Kruger National Park officials have raised the alarm over a mass poisoning that killed over 120 vultures, calling it one of the worst in recent years and warning it could push the endangered species towards extinction. Rescue teams managed to save 81 vultures through an unprecedented joint operation. Experts warn that the poison used - an organophosphate so lethal it's nicknamed 'two-step' - poses severe risks to humans, pets and water systems, with even trace exposure potentially fatal.

Thursday, 19 June 2025
Kooper L 2025. Ministry offers cash to catch poachers.

The Ministry of Environment and Tourism has launched a community reward fund to encourage the reporting of poaching activities to help curb wildlife crimes in the Zambezi region. Namibia has lost over 631 rhinos to poaching over the last 10 years and just over 220 elephants, although the number of poached elephants has significantly declined in recent years. Saisai says compensation varies according to species, adding that if a community member provides a tip on a buffalo being poached, they would be paid N$1 000.

Tuesday, 3 June 2025
2025. EU remains major hub for global trafficking of wild species, latest data shows.

The report, produced under a Service Contract with the European Commission, provides an in-depth analysis of illegal wildlife trade trends based on seizures reported by EU Member States to Europe Trade in Wildlife Information eXchange (EU-TWIX) system. The illegal trade in wild species is a critical threat to biodiversity; valued at a staggering $23bn each year, it devastates ecosystems and fuels crime.

Monday, 2 June 2025
Malinga G 2025. Team set up to tackle wildlife poisoning.

More than 120 vultures are believed to have died recently in the Kruger National Park after feeding on an elephant carcass that was laced with poison, allegedly by poachers. Around 80 of the endangered scavenger birds narrowly survived. KwaZulu-Natal has also seen a sharp decline in vulture populations, with vulture poisoning cases reported in the northern parts of Zululand - including Hluhluwe and Pongola. However officials say there's been a sharp decline.

Monday, 2 June 2025
2025. Wildlife trafficking jumps in Costa Rica, threatening biodiversity.

Costa Rica is dealing with yet another sharp rise in wildlife trafficking, now our country's third most common environmental crime. Reports highlighted intensified efforts by authorities to curb this growing threat, which endangers our nation’s incredible array of life. Park rangers and police recently uncovered cases involving species like capybaras, parrots, and reptiles, with five capybaras found in captivity just last week. The illegal trade, driven by demand for exotic pets and animal parts, is putting immense pressure on Costa Rica's ecosystems.

Thursday, 23 April 2020
2020. Man glo vas met twee muskeljaatkatvelle.

Beslag is op altesaam 63 patrone, vyf vuurwapens en twee muskeljaatkatvelle gelê.

A total of 63 cartridges, five firearms and two Cape Genet skins were seized.

Tuesday, 21 April 2020
2020. Wildmisdaad: 64 patrone gekonfiskeer.

Beslag is op altesaam 64 patrone, vyf vuurwapens en twee muskeljaatkatvelle gelê.

A total of 64 cartridges, five firearms and two Cape Genet skins were seized.

Tuesday, 21 April 2020
2020. Can tourism reverse the impact of poaching in Zambia and Zimbabwe?.

The effects of poaching and climate change are keenly felt In Zambia and Zimbabwe. This ecological
frontline is manned by innovative, but under-funded conservation units, with tourism supporting the survival
of some of Africa’s rarest species.

Tuesday, 21 April 2020
Bega S 2020. Wildlife trafficking soars as illegal dealers use unchecked hubs in southern Africa.

Guyanese finches are almost always smuggled in hair curlers from Guyana to New York, while pig-nosed turtles are trafficked in high amounts, declared as a marine species, and flown from a regional Indonesian airport to Jakarta before flying to China. The greatest variation in wildlife trafficking in air transport doesn’t necessarily occur between regions but between the species or wildlife products trafficked, the specific methods used with the routes taken by wildlife traffickers heavily dependent on wildlife type, says the Runway to Extinction report:…

Monday, 20 April 2020
2020. National parks closed until early May - Anti-poaching activities to continue.

The country's national parks will be closed for the duration of the lockdown until 5 May in compliance with the state of emergency declared by the President in reaction to the COVID-19 outbreak. The Ministry of Environment and Tourism, spokesperson, Romeo Muyunda, in a statement last week said during the duration, tour operations and guiding activities will not be allowed in the national parks which also includes closure of accommodation establishments.

Thursday, 16 April 2020
2020. Man vas oor twee skilpaaie.

Wildmisdaad het tydens die Covid-19-hoktyd afgeneem met net een saak aangemeld en twee Namibiese mans wat in hegtenis geneem is. Volgens die weeklikse wildmisdaadverslag is mnr. Jason Hamutenya verlede Dinsdag op Usakos glo met twee lewende skilpaaie in sy besit vasgetrek. Die ander vermeende wildmisdadiger, mnr. Matias Kaurikengererua is verlede Woensdag by Osire in verband met die sameswering om 'n renoster te stroop, in hegtenis geneem.

Thursday, 9 April 2020
2020. Mit zwei Schildkröten verhaftet.

Die Polizei hat am Dienstagmittag einen 31-jährigen Einwohner von Usakos festgenommen, der im Besitz von zwei Schildkröten gewesen sei und über keine Genehmigung verfügt habe. Laut Erongo-Polizeisprecher wird Jason Hamunyela ein Verstoß gegen das Wildtiergesetz beziehungsweise der illegale Handel mit Wildtierprodukten vorgeworfen. Den Wert der Tiere beziffern die Behörden mit 20000 Namibia-Dollar. „Die Schildkröten wurden an Beamte des Ministeriums für Umwelt, Forstwirtschaft und Tourismus in Omaruru überreicht, wo sie sicher aufbewahrt werden“, erklärte der Polizeisprecher.

Friday, 3 April 2020
Jantze Z 2020. Wildlife crime registered every day.

Wildlife crime has become one of the central conservation challenges in Namibia, with a total of 174 wildlife species poached in the country last year alone. This number signifies an increase, as 115 were poached in 2018.

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