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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 - 13 of 13
Tuesday, 26 April 2022
Simpson S 2022. Police officer, four others arrested for pangolin dealing in Midrand.

Five people were arrested in Midrand, Gauteng for pangolin trafficking and contravening the National Environmental Management-Biodiversity (NEMBA) Act. The Hawks pounced on the suspects after receiving a tip-off.

Monday, 25 April 2022
Bafeli F 2022. Cameroon: Four traffickers arrested with 4 elephant tusks and other wildlife species.

Four traffickers have been arrested for trafficking in ivory tusk, pangolin, and chimpanzee.

Saturday, 23 April 2022
McCain N 2022. Four bust at North West mall trying to sell pangolin for R250 000.

Four people have been arrested for trying to sell a pangolin for R250 000. They were arrested at a North West mall while attempting to find a buyer. The pangolin was found in their car and taken to safety.

Thursday, 21 April 2022
Smit E 2022. 38 000 suspects arrested in 2021.

Additionally, 770 suspects were arrested for wildlife crimes. Wildlife products confiscated included 108 elephant tusks, 117 pangolins and 59 rhino horns, while 42 unlicensed firearms used in the commission of wildlife crimes were seized.

Tuesday, 19 April 2022
2022. Our investigation into pangolin trade from Uganda to China exposes serious legal loopholes.

Our investigation into pangolin trade from Uganda to China exposes serious legal loopholes.

Sunday, 10 April 2022
Schrieber S 2022. R50 000 pangolin deal leads to sellers being arrested in Pretoria.

Pretoria-based police have yet again nabbed suspects who attempted to secretly sell an endangered species, a pangolin, which continues to be a problematic crime in the region. On Friday, four people were arrested during a street sale of a pangolin when the sellers were promised R50 000 in a police trap.

Friday, 8 April 2022
2022. Trio nabbed for pangolins.

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has arrested three men from Chipinge for suspected unlawful possession of two live pangolins.

Friday, 1 April 2022
2022. Economic growth and biodiversity adversely affected by wildlife crimes.

Wildlife crimes remain a severe threat to the economy and biodiversity as well as to local livelihoods, the recently released Second National Integrated State of the Environment Report for Namibia showed. According to the report, a large number of wildlife crime cases are related to poaching for meat while rhinos currently represent the most valuable and sought after wildlife crime target. "Between 2018 and 2019, there has been an increase in registered wildlife cases related to high-value species growing from 115 to 174 cases.

Thursday, 27 February 2020
Steynberg F 2020. Drie stroop glo renoster in Etosha:  'Ietermagôsmokkelaars' kry borg.

Vanaf 17 tot 23 Februarie is beslag op twee renosterhorings gelê. Drie vermeende renosterstropers in die Etosha Nasionale Park, mnre. Festus Simon, Johannes Valombola en Efraim Malakia, is op 18 Februarie by Okahao in hegtenis geneem. Volgens die polisie is twee renosterhorings, twee .303-jaggewere, 30 patrone en 'n voertuig gekonfiskeer. 

Thursday, 20 February 2020
2020. 82 arrested for pangolin poaching.

At least 82 people were arrested last year alone and police recovered 17 pangolins and over 1 000 kilogrammes of pangolin scales, as the Zimbabwe Republic Police declares war on wildlife crimes countrywide.

Wednesday, 19 February 2020
Shikongo A 2020. Six arrested for pangolin skin possession.

LAW enforcement agents last week cracked down on six individuals who were found in possession of pangolin skin.

Tuesday, 11 February 2020
African Ietermagog goes to China by the tonnes-load.

A critically endangered Namibian mammal is receiving international attention with the release this week of an investigative report detailing the ongoing largescale tracking in this group of species. The eight species of pangolins or scaly anteaters are found across Africa, the middle East and South Asia. All eight species are widely pouched for their scales, believed by superstitious Orientals to have medicinal value. In fact, the scales are just compressed hair meaning they consist of keratin.

Thursday, 6 February 2020
Denker H 2020. The plight of the Namibian pangolin.

Between 1 January and 31 December 2019, 155 suspects were arrested for being found in possession of pangolins or their parts, attempting to trade these, or aiding and abetting those charged with possession or trafficking. During the same year, law enforcement officers in Namibia confiscated 121 pangolins. About 60% of the pangolins were dead. Most of the animals seized alive could be rehabilitated and released back into the wild.

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