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.
Explore your search results using the filter checkboxes, or amend your search or start a new search.
Bush burning as a means of hunting was historically common in many African societies. However, while modernisation and technological innovation have significantly reduced the practice, it is still carried out in some areas, including conservation centres. One such area is Ghan's Mole National Park (MNP), where some people burn parts of the forests to carry out illegal hunting expeditions, otherwise known as poaching.
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GHAN_2025_05_Poaching_Bush Burning_Mole National Parks conservatory scars_My Joy Online.pdf | 569.85 KB |
The global demand for small wildlife, including ants, spiders and scorpions, is increasing. Just this week, a group of Belgians and Vietnamese were sentenced for smuggling ants out of Kenya. Dr Caswell Munyai, a myrmecologist from UKZN has more on this.
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SA_2025_05_Global demand for small wildlife on the increase_ENCA.pdf | 44.87 KB |
Eighty-four vultures have been rescued by a joint team of SANParks rangers and Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) officials from a devastating poisoning in the Kruger National Park. The incident in the Mahlangeni Section of the Park was detected by the EWT's pioneering wildlife poisoning surveillance and detection system, which triggered an alert at 06:05 on 6 May 2025, flagging suspicious activity in a remote section of the park. Within hours, a joint SANParks and EWT team mobilised, arriving on site by 08:20.
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SA_2025_05_84 cape vultures rescued from poisoning in the Kruger National Park_SANParks.pdf | 90.3 KB |
Conservation is under serious threat from mining activities in protected areas countrywide, putting wild animals at risk of extinction, a Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) official has said. Giving oral evidence to the Tourism and Hospitality Industry Parliamentary Portfolio Committee this Monday, ZimParks Corporate Secretary Nyasha Mutyambizi said the Mines ministry continued to accept applications for mining purposes in the restricted areas meant for conservation and tourism.
A Kenyan court has sentenced four men to one year in prison or pay a fine of $7,700 (£5,800) for trying to smuggle thousands of live queen ants out of the country. The four suspects - two Belgians, a Vietnamese and a Kenyan - were arrested last month with live ants suspected to have been destined for collectors in Europe and Asia. They had pleaded guilty to the charges, with the Belgians telling the court that they were collecting the highly sought-after ants as a hobby and didn't think it was illegal.
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KEN_2025_05_Gang who smuggled thousands of queen ants sentenced in Kenya_BBC.pdf | 252.9 KB |
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.
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.
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SA_2023_08_Elephant tusk_meat carcasses_guns and blue lights seized in Alex bust_Herald Live.pdf | 259.5 KB |
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.
'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.
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NAM_2023_08_Stropers loop 60km vir gemsbok_Republikein.pdf | 493.37 KB |
NAM_2023_08_Poachers walk 60km for gemsbok_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 451.82 KB |
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.
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NAM_202_08_Use of wire snares for illegal hunting on the rise_Eagle FM.pdf | 157 KB |
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.
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NAM_2023_08_Illegal wire snares are decimating wildlife in Etosha_Windhoek Observer.pdf | 272.86 KB |
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
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NAM_2023_08_Umweltministerium ist besorgt_Allgemeine Zeitung.pdf | 378.89 KB |
NAM_2023_08_Ministry of Environment is concerned_Allgemeine Zeitung_Eng.pdf | 401.19 KB |
"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.
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NAM_2023_08_Al meer strikke in Etosha gestel_Republikein.pdf | 224.05 KB |
NAM_2023_08_More traps set in Etosha_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 217.28 KB |
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.
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NAM_2023_08_62 wire snares retrieved at Etosha_Informante.pdf | 454.29 KB |
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.
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AFR_2023_08_Pair Seized Over Shocking Show Of Slaughtered African Wildlife_Auburnpub.pdf | 234.13 KB |
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.
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.
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.
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NAM_2023_08_Farmers fed up with butchering_poaching_The Namibian.pdf | 413.51 KB |
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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NAM_2023_08_Man nabbed for possession of hippo carcass_New Era.pdf | 267.12 KB |