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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
Tuesday, 31 October 2023
Walters T 2023. Decline in Kruger rhino-poaching rates woefully drives shift to commercial bushmeat, reveals park ranger.

A void left by illegal horn income may now be driving neighbouring communities to snare and shoot species such as African buffalo in the park's southwest sector. Despite the lowveld’s searing heat, thorny canopy and tough terrain, Kruger's staff and honorary rangers say they are fighting back - on foot.

Monday, 30 October 2023
2023. Kruger National Park scrambles to minimise snaring of animals by villagers for game meat.

In spite of the surge in snaring of animals in the Kruger National Park officials are scrambling to come up with ways to curb the emerging onslaught to the game for bush meat. With less than two months left until the end of the year field and honorary rangers claim to have removed more than 3 000 snares that were placed across the park to trap the animals. According to the statistics, this ruthless form of poaching has been on the increase in recent years claiming more than 7  000 snares in last year as opposed to 4  000 in 2021. According…

Thursday, 26 October 2023
Xulu L 2023. Sentencing of three wildlife poachers hailed as a success.

The recent sentencing of three wildlife poachers has been hailed as a success in the anti-poaching efforts of the Greytown community. Farmers, SAPS and security companies working together to curb poaching in the Greytown area have welcomed the sentences handed down to three men aged between 27 and 42 years old, who were found guilty of illegal hunting by the Greytown Magistrate's Court. The three men were each sentenced to eight months' imprisonment or a R2 000 fine.

Monday, 9 October 2023
Walters T 2023. Snaring in Kruger National Park spikes more than 200% amid socioeconomic crisis.

Since 2020, snaring has tripled in the crown jewels of South Africa's Big Five reserves. This suggests economic hardship, although it is not the sole factor to blame. Responding to questions by the Democratic Alliance’s Hannah Winkler on the park’s snaring trends, Environment Minister Barbara Creecy reported the removal of thousands of snares: In 2020, 2,407 snares were removed; In 2021, 4,454 snares were removed; In 2022, 7,270 snares were removed.

Thursday, 31 August 2023
Hattingh E 2023. Erneute Wilderei: "Dieser Trend zerstört Namibias größtes Kapital".

Farmer in der Gegend von Omaruru beschweren sich erneut darüber, dass das Problem mit Viehdiebstahl und Wilderei überwältigend sei - so sehr, dass sie befürchten, dass die Farmen aufgegeben werden. So spricht Markus Trede von der Farm Lindholm bei Omaruru, der am Dienstag auf seiner Farm einen Eland fand, der in einer Drahtschlinge grausam verendet war. Auf seiner Farm wurden in den letzten Wochen außerdem sechs Rinder gewildert. "Sie kommen auch wegen des Wildes. Auf unseren oder umliegenden Höfen findet man fast keine Gemsböcke mehr.

Wednesday, 30 August 2023
2023. Elephant tusk, meat carcasses, guns and blue lights seized in Alex bust.

Gauteng police have seized meat carcasses hijacked from a delivery truck, guns and ammunition, blue lights and signal jammers at a property in Alexandra, Johannesburg. An elephant tusk was also found at the 7th Avenue premises during Tuesday's operation, said police spokesperson Col Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi.

Friday, 25 August 2023
2023. Mozambican man sentenced to nine years in jail for hunting in the Kruger National Park.

The Skukuza Regional Court in Mpumalanga sentenced 35-year-old Mozambican national Thomas Yingwana to nine years imprisonment for hunting in the Kruger National Park. Police spokesperson in Mpumalanga, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala said Yingwana had illegally entered South Africa last year. "The court heard how in November 2022, the accused entered the park before he was caught.

Thursday, 24 August 2023
Hattingh E 2023. Stropers loop 60km vir gemsbok.

'n Boer en verskeie plaaswerkers in die Omatjette-omgewing moes die afgelope naweek die handdoek ingooi nadat hulle vir langer as tien ure tevergeefs op die spoor van gemsbokstropers was. Die stropers het na raming minstens 60 km geloop om een gemsbok te slag. Volgens die boer op wie se plaas geslag is, is daar so ver gestap omdat daar moontlik nie meer wild op nabygeleë plase oor is nie.

Wednesday, 23 August 2023
Lukas J 2023. Use of wire snares for illegal hunting on the rise.

A total of 62 active wire snares have been retrieved in Okaukuejo, an area around the Etosha National Park, in three days. According to the spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT), Romeo Muyunda, the illegal hunting and killing of wild animals using wire snares is increasing in Etosha National Park, causing concern for the Ministry. Muyunda said the practice of using wire snares for hunting is unsanctioned, illegal and punishable by law.

Wednesday, 23 August 2023
Terblanché N 2023. Illegal wire snares are decimating wildlife in Etosha.

People that have settled in communities in various areas of the Etosha National Park, one of
Namibia's premier tourist attractions are decimating wildlife by using wire snares to kill animals for
food.

Wednesday, 23 August 2023
Reiter C, Bause T 2023. Umweltministerium ist besorgt.

Das Ministerium für Umwelt, Forstwirtschaft und Tourismus ist laut einer Pressemitteilung
besorgt über die zunehmende Verwendung von Drahtschlingen zur illegalen Jagd und Tötung
von Wildtieren im Park. Der Pressesprecher des Ministeriums, Romeo Muyunda, erklärte: "Wir
möchten betonen, dass die Beseitigung von Schlingen zu unseren täglichen Aufgaben im
Rahmen der Parkverwaltung gehört. Es wird vermutet, dass einige Gemeindemitglieder, die sich
im Nationalpark aufhalten, Schlingen aufstellen, um Wildtiere zu jagen und zu töten." In Etoscha

Wednesday, 23 August 2023
Bause T 2023. Al meer strikke in Etosha gestel.

"Ons kan nie die mense verwyder nie; hulle is deel van die park. Ons moet net kyk hoe ons kan verseker dat hulle die reëls nakom.

Wednesday, 23 August 2023
David M 2023. 62 wire snares retrieved at Etosha.

The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) is concerned about the increasing use of snares to illegally hunt and kill wild animals in Etosha National Park. This comes after wire snares were discovered and retrieved in Etosha National Park.

Tuesday, 22 August 2023
2023. Pair seized over shocking show of slaughtered african wildlife.

This undated footage shows fifty illegal hunting trophies that were sized by police from a person, in two houses in Daroca and Manchones, Spain. This is the macabre slaughterhouse nightmare of two big game-hunting fans found with dozens of illegal trophies in their homes. The sick wildlife harvest was discovered  in two homes, located in the towns of Daroca and Manchones respetively, in the Spanish province of Zaragoza, after a year-long investigation.

Tuesday, 22 August 2023
2023. Illegal wire snares now the order of the day in Etosha National Park - Ministry concerned.

Illegal wire snares are becoming more common in Etosha National Park, causing concern for the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism. A total of 62 active wire snares were retrieved in the area around Okaukuejo, in the îagship Etosha National Park, over three days, according to spokesperson Romeo Muyunda on Tuesday.

Monday, 21 August 2023
2023. Two arrested for possession of protected game meat in Otjozondjupa Region.

Two men were on Saturday arrested at Farm Kenilworth in the Otjozondjupa Region, after being found in possession of protected game meat valued at N.dollars 22 000.

Sunday, 13 August 2023
Hartman A 2023. Farmers fed up with butchering, poaching.

Cattle rustlers and poachers are terrorising farmers in the Erongo and Otjozondjupa regions, including in the Omaruru, Kalkfeld, Otjiwarongo and Waterberg areas. Namibian Agricultural Union executive council member Günther Kahl, who is also a farmer, told The Namibian last week that livestock theft and poaching have spiralled out of control, leaving the farming community distraught and enraged. Statistics reveal losses running into millions of dollars and large numbers of livestock and game since 2013. "We face the slaughtering of cattle every day.

Tuesday, 1 August 2023
Muyamba J 2023. Man nabbed  for possession of hippo carcass.

An adult male was on Friday arrested by the Namibian police after he was found to be transporting game meat (a hippopotamus carcass) at Katere village in the Ndiyona constituency, Kavango East region. The suspect is due to face charges of illegal transportation and possession of game meat.

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