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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
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.

Tuesday, 26 November 2024
Mowbray S 2024. Vulture poisonings in the Serengeti alarm conservationists.

In July this year, conservationists from North Carolina Zoo in the U.S. and the Grumeti Fund in Tanzania went searching for a white-backed vulture in Tanzania's Serengeti National Park that had been tagged a few weeks earlier. Tracking data suggested the bird had died. The team traveled off-road to the southwestern edge of the park, accompanied by rangers from the Tanzania National Parks Authority (TANAPA). Upon arriving at the bird's location, they came across a gruesome scene: 108 vultures had been sorted into rows, missing their heads and feet.

Friday, 22 November 2024
Kheibes E, Mueller O 2024. Members of Neighbourhood Watch hunt illegally.

Waldo McClune (38), Fabian Routh (39), Brandon Van Wyk (34) and Terence Theron (47), all members of the Block A neighbourhood watch, are said to have hunted the game at night and, with the owner's knowledge, delivered it to a well-known slaughterhouse in Rehoboth. McClune is reportedly part of the group's executive committee. The source, who wishes to remain anonymous, told the Namibian Sun that McClune had exploited his position to influence the nightly meetings, and members were concerned about the extent of negligence and feared for their monthly dues.

Wednesday, 20 November 2024
2024. Three arrested for warthog meat possession.

The Namibian Police in Otavi have arrested three suspects who were allegedly found in possession of warthog meat. The three suspects - one Angolan and two Namibian males - were apprehended at Farm Salem on Friday morning. The value of the warthog is estimated at N$500.

Tuesday, 19 November 2024
2024. Endangered Egyptian Vultures return to South Africa in historic conservation milestone.

Two endangered Egyptian Vultures have landed in the Eastern Cape after a 16,600km journey, marking a pivotal step in a groundbreaking conservation effort to bring this species back from extinction in South Africa. Eastern Cape, South Africa (19 November 2024) – In a groundbreaking step for African wildlife conservation, a pair of endangered Egyptian Vultures has completed an epic 16,600-kilometre journey from San Diego to their new home in the Eastern Cape.

Wednesday, 13 November 2024
Steynberg F 2024. Otji farmer in court over croc charges.

Farmer and hunting operator in the Otjiwarongo district, Johan van Rensburg, was arrested last Thursday after a live crocodile and a crocodile carcass were discovered on his farm, according to the protected resources unit at the Namibian police. He appeared in the Otjiwarongo Magistrate's Court on Friday in connection with the illegal hunting and transportation of two crocodiles. Van Rensburg, the owner of Osonjiva Safaris Namibia, was released on bail of N$20 000 and the case has been postponed for further investigation until 17 February 2025.

Thursday, 31 October 2024
2024. Wildlife law enforcement briefing.

4 ivory traffickers arrested with 3 tusks in Congo in a crackdown on judicial corruption. One of them is the head clerk of the high court of Dolisie who used his position to traffic seized ivory from the court’s evidence room. He was denounced by the other traffickers and a raid was carried out his home the following morning when he arrested. Two of the tusks bear markings corresponding to our operation from 2021. This is an important step in combatting corruption in the judicial system. 2 traffickers arrested with 3 elephant tusks, 41 ivory statues, and 13 hippo teeth in Togo.…

Monday, 28 October 2024
Horn A 2024. Demonstration against mining activities.

On Thursday morning, a notice of appeal was filed with the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism to revoke the Environmental Impact Certificates (ECC), according to which mining was allowed in the protected and conservanial areas southwest of Khorixas. This came after the High Court temporarily banned all mining operations in the area in an urgent procedure until the environmental officer Timoteus Mufeti made a decision on the mining applications of Timoteus Mashuna and Otilie Ndeshetelwa Ndimulunde.

Tuesday, 22 October 2024
2024. Savannah region of northern Cameroon: A unique rcosystem under pressure.

Northern Cameroon is characterized by flat to gently undulating countryside, with vast plains and occasional rocky outcrops that stretch over a mix of dry and wet savannah landscapes. Large ephemeral rivers create seasonal wetlands and floodplains important for agriculture and wildlife. The northernmost parts of this region are a part of the Sahel, which marks a transition between the desert and the more fertile savannah to the south. The region falls within the Sudano-Sahelian climatic zone, which experiences distinct wet and dry seasons.

Friday, 18 October 2024
Maela T 2024. Poaching incident leads to arrests after buffalo attack.

In Vhembe District, Limpopo, police have detained five men, ages 28 to 42, in connection with illegal hunting activities and obstruction of justice. According to Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, the provincial police spokesperson, the arrests took place on Sunday in the villages of Bennde-Mutale and Nkotswi. According to IOL, the suspects are accused of hunting buffalo unlawfully within the Kruger National Park. During the incident, one member of the group was fatally injured by a buffalo.

Tuesday, 15 October 2024
Maromo J 2024. Buffalo turns tables on illegal hunters in Kruger National Park, charges and kills one poacher.

The group of men was illegally hunting for buffalo in the Kruger National Park when one of them was attacked by a buffalo. "The group shot the buffalo and one of the accomplices removed the injured victim, who was deceased, from the scene and placed him next to the fence of the park. One of them returned home to inform relatives to come and pick him up," said Ledwaba. The alerted relative went and picked up the deceased man's body.

Thursday, 3 October 2024
Abraham M 2024. In South Sudan, hunger complicates plans to end wildlife poaching.
Conservationists urge the protection of wildlife, but in the absence of food, many communities say they are forced to hunt to survive.
Thursday, 3 October 2024
2024. Monitoring online illegal wildlife trade: Insights from Brazil and South Africa.

Illegal wildlife trade (IWT) is increasingly taking place online, with social media and e-commerce platforms being used to facilitate the sale of endangered species. Data collected from May to July 2024 reveals that 477 online advertisements were detected for 18 protected species across Brazil and South Africa. Shockingly, 78% of these ads were posted on platforms like Facebook, making social media a major player in the online wildlife trade.

Tuesday, 1 October 2024
Nakashole P, Palata M 2024. Hunger not a justification for killing endangered carmine bee-eaters, warns Kavango East leader.

Chairperson of the Kavango East Regional Council Damian Maghambayi says hunger is no excuse for killing endangered birds. He was speaking to The Namibian following a report in yesterday’s edition on residents of the Kavango regions reportedly trapping carmine bee-eater birds to eat.

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