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.
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The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism said the illegal capture, killing and trade of pangolins for international markets has increased in recent years. Since 2017, the ministry recorded 320 pangolin poaching cases in the country. Of those, the highest number was reported in 2019 with 96 cases, followed by 62 in 2018, 60 in 2020, 59 in 2021, with the lowest reported in 2017, namely 43 cases.
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NAM_2022_02_Pangolin poaching cases reach 320 in five years_Informante.pdf | 70.48 KB |
World Pangolin Day kicked off with a bang on 19 February, with Namibia hosting a sizeable number of pangolins.
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NAM_2022_02_Let every scale count_Namibian Sun.pdf | 774.2 KB |
A total of 320 cases of crimes involving pangolins have been recorded in the last five years since 2017, the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, spokesperson, Romeo Muyunda said in a statement when the country celebrated World Pangolin Day over the past weekend. Muyunda said the figures include 43 in 2017; 62 in 2018; 96 in 2019; 59 in 2020 and 60 in 2021.
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NAM_2022_02_Collective efforts assist government to battle pangolin crimes_Namibia Economist.pdf | 486.1 KB |
United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator Malawi Rudolf Schwenk says the increased trends in poaching of animals such as elephants and pangolins in Malawi is very worrying and if left unaddressed, wildlife trafficking will continue to be a threat to achievement of sustainable development in the country.
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MAL_2022_02_UN says wildlife crime in Malawi needs to be fully addressed_malawi24.pdf | 395.75 KB |
Sie sind faszinierend, selten und oft das Ziel von Wilderei und Schmuggel - Pangoline, auch bekannt als Schuppentiere. Sie sind das einzige geschuppte Säugetier und ihre Spezies, von der es acht Unterarten gibt, ist über 60 Millionen Jahre alt. Morgen, am 19. Februar, ist Weltpangolintag, um auf die hohe Gefährdung dieser beeindruckenden Tierart aufmerksam zu machen. Der Mensch ist dabei die größte Bedrohung: Schuppentiere sind die meist geschmuggelte Säugetierspezies weltweit, vor allem da ihre Schuppen in Asien als traditionelles Heilmittel verwendet werden.
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NAM_2022_02_Welttag der Schuppentiere-Allgemeine Zeitung.pdf | 567.89 KB |
NAM_2022_02_World Pangolin Day_Allgemeine Zeitung_Eng.pdf | 557.44 KB |
Hulle bewandel die aarde reeds vir 80 miljoen jaar, eet miere en termiete (tot 70 miljoen per jaar!) en is skadeloos vir mense. Tog is ietermagôs bekend as die dier wat die meeste ter wêreld verhandel word en maak soveel as 20% van alle onwettige handel in wildlewe uit. Meer as ’n miljoen ietermagôs is in die dekade voor 2014 gestroop, hoofsaaklik vir hul skubbe wat geglo word ’n verskeidenheid gesondheidstoestande in tradisionele Chinese medisyne behandel en ook as ’n fynproewersdis in Viëtnam en China beskou word.
Zimbabwe has partnered four other states in the Kavango Zambezi (KAZA) Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA) in an agreement which will see them joining forces to combat wildlife crime. The four states that will work with Zimbabwe to defend their borders against wildlife threats are Angola, Botswana, Namibia and Zambia.
The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), in collaboration with the Wildlife Justice Commission, has intercepted pangolin scales and elephant tusks worth N3.1billion being transported through Nigeria to Asia. The Controller General of Customs, Hameed Ali, who disclosed this yesterday while displaying the seized items to journalists at the Customs Training College, Ikeja, Lagos, said 15 sacks of pangolin scales (839.4kg) and four sacks of elephant tusks (145kg) were intercepted in a Toyota Sienna bus with registration number KRD 541 HH at Lekki on February 2, 2022.
Three men who were allegedly found in possession of a pangolin worth US$5 000 appeared before a Harare magistrate on Friday facing charges of contravening the Parks and Wildlife Act (Chapter 20:14). Munashe Maposa (23), Oswell Chingwara (21) and Vincent Sigauke (23) of Chipinge were denied bail and remanded to February 18 for bail application. Prosecutor Ms Ruvimbo Matyatya said on February 3, at around 6am, detectives from the CID Minerals Flaura and Fauna Unit received information that a male adult was selling a live pangolin along George Silundika Street in Harare.
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ZIM_2022_02_Three in court for pangolin possession_The Sunday Mail.pdf | 146.45 KB |
Two men were arrested in the CBD for allegedly trafficking and trying to sell a pangolin for approximately R350 000. Preliminary investigations revealed the pangolin was from Thabazimbi.
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SA_2020-10_Two arrested in Pretoria CBD for allegedly trying to sell pangolin for R350 000_IOL.pdf | 176.19 KB |
Vier maande gelede het Chinese staatsmedia aangekondig ietermagôskubbe is van tradisionele medisynelyste verwyder, maar navorsing weerspreek dat dié benadering in werklikheid toegepas word. Volgens ’n verslag getiteld “Smoke and Mirrors” van die Omgewingsondersoekagentskap (EIA) wat vandeesmaand gepubliseer is, word ietermagôprodukte steeds in tradisionele medisyne gebruik.
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NAM_2020-10_China se rookskerm vir ietermagog_Republikein.pdf | 158.25 KB |
NAM_2020-10_Chinas smoke and mirror for pangolin_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 156.71 KB |
At Opuwo, two Namibians were arrested on 13 October for being in possession of a pangolin. At Grootfontein, a Namibian, Raimo Kakongo, was arrested on 11 October on a charge of conspiring to poach a rhino. The case dates back to August this year. He has been charged with contravening the Riotous Assemblies Act. At Opuwo, two Namibians were arrested on 13 October for being in possession of a pangolin. Uaninazo Muheke and Mavetumbuavi Mutambo were charged with contravening the Controlled Wildlife Products and Trade Act.
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NAM_2020-10_Seven apprehended for wildlife crimes_Namibian Sun.pdf | 292.67 KB |
Until an illegal wildlife trade report was published in May 2015, Malawi's role in one of the world's largest transnational organised crimes was largely unknown. The landlocked southeast African nation - bordered by countries with large wildlife populations - was revealed to be a major trafficking hub for ivory, pangolin scales, rhino horn and other illegal wildlife commodities. Malawi's weak identification and enforcement systems were being systematically exploited by criminals to export their products to China, Vietnam and other demand countries. In response…
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Malawi_2020-10_Illegal wildlife trade_Journal of African Elephants.pdf | 828.61 KB |
Pangolins are the most poached and trafficked animal species in Namibia, crime statistics show. A total of 174 wildlife crime cases involving high-value species were registered last year and more than 360 suspects were arrested. According to the 2019/2020 annual progress report of the environment ministry, 92 of these cases related to pangolin, 54 related to elephants, 32 related to rhinos and 17 to conspiracy to poach rhinos.
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NAM_2020-10_363 arrested for wildlife crimes in 2019_Namibian Sun.pdf | 405.29 KB |
Altesaam 14 vermeende wildmisdadigers is verlede week in hegtenis geneem en sewe nuwe sake is aanhangig gemaak.
A total of 14 suspected wildlife criminals were arrested last week and seven new cases were filed.
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NAM_2020-10_Angolese_Zambiers vas oor wildmisdaad_Republikein.pdf | 326.75 KB |
NAM_2020-10_Angolan_Zambians arrested over wildlife crime_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 224.15 KB |
Vier wildmisdadigers het ligte vonnisse in Namibiese howe gekry. ‘n Angolees John Emmanuel, ‘n Rwandese burger, Theogen Nkuruziza, en Namibiër Vilho Mwahafa is op 10 Desember 2018 met ‘n lewende ietermagô in hul besit op Otjiwarongo in hegtenis geneem. Die drie is skuldig bevind en op 21 September elk gevonnis tot ‘n boete van N$8 000 of 28 maande tronkstraf waarvan 1 jaar vir 60 maande opgeskort is. Hul Angolese medebeskuldigde, mnr. Albino Shipipes, is vrygespreek. Ietermagogs is die mees gesmokkelde soogdier ter wêreld.
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NAM_2020-10_Ligte strawwe vir wildmisdadigers_Republikein.pdf | 324.52 KB |
NAM_2020-10_Mild penalties for wildlife criminals_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 227.89 KB |
Fourteen suspects have been arrested in connection with wildlife crimes and seven new cases have been registered. Three of the suspects were arrested in connection with rhino poaching or trafficking. According to the information provided by the intelligence and investigation unit within the environment and tourism ministry and the protected resources unit within the safety and security ministry, 11 illegal wildlife products were seized.
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NAM_2020-10_14 caught for wildlife crimes_Namibian Sun.pdf | 288.91 KB |
Despite COVID-19 bringing global travel to a standstill, Wilderness Safaris has rearmed its dedication to conserving and restoring Africa’s wilderness by continuing to support vital conservation projects in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe. This included a recent donation from Wilderness Safaris' Sustainability Fund to support the operating costs of the Scorpion Anti-Poaching Unit (SAPU) until end December 2020.
Two villagers from Binga who were caught trying to sell a live pangolin in Zambia have been sentenced to a mandatory five years in jail each in the neighbouring country.
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ZIM_2020-10_Pangolin peddling villagers arrested_The Chronicle.pdf | 314.08 KB |
Six suspects have been arrested in connection with wildlife crimes and two new cases were registered last week. Three of the suspects were arrested for elephant poaching and one suspect was arrested for rhino poaching. According to information provided by the intelligence and investigation unit in the environment ministry and the protected resources unit in the safety and security ministry, three illegal wildlife products were confiscated. At Mukwe in the Kavango East Region, three Namibians were arrested on 22 September for being in possession of two elephant tusks.
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NAM_2020-10_Six arrested for wildlife crimes_Namibian Sun.pdf | 300.43 KB |