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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 - 11 of 11
Tuesday, 31 October 2023
Bruwer C 2023. Can South Africa contain pangolin trafficking?.

There are worrying signs that the illegal trade is becoming more organised, with professionals and government officials involved.

Monday, 30 October 2023
Edozie V 2023. Nigeria: Customs seizes pangolins, elephant tusk worth N680 Million.

The Eastern Marine Command of Nigeria Customs Service in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, said it has made a significant breakthrough in combating wildlife trafficking by intercepting a substantial quantity of pangolin scales, elephant tusks and sacks of used second hand shoes worth N680,290,400 in its area of operation.

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.

Friday, 6 October 2023
Karengezeka Y 2023. Cop in trouble over US$ 15K pangolin skins.
Wednesday, 4 October 2023
Lupande F 2023. Live pangolin lands Mt Darwin man in trouble.
Monday, 2 October 2023
2023. How illegal wildlife, trade traffickers escape justice in Nigeria.

The three were arrested in Lagos in July 2021 following the interception by Nigerian Customs agents of 196 sacks of pangolin scales weighing 7,137.40kg, one sack of pangolin claws weighing 4.60kg and 29 sacks of elephant tusks weighing 870.4kg.

Monday, 28 August 2023
Nkala S 2023. 4 years in jail for pangolin possession.

Two Zimbabweans, who were recently arrested for illegal possession of a pangolin and illegally entering Botswana, have been jailed four years each.

Friday, 25 August 2023
Mojela A 2023. Female pangolin and baby rescued from poachers in the Northern Cape.

A mission to rescue a pangolin confiscated in Kuruman in the Northern Cape led to a Limpopo foundation sponsoring a flight to the Northern Cape to have it treated at Provet Animal Hospital in Hoedspruit. Provet Animal Hospital said on Facebook that a female Temminck’s ground pangolin was confiscated from the illegal wildlife trade and upon assessment, the veterinarian in Kuruman discovered that she was clutching a newborn pup, a little male, still wrapped in the afterbirth.

Tuesday, 22 August 2023
2023. Wildlife traffickers in e-hailing cab bust with pangolin.

The Hawks serious organised crime investigation (Soci) team arrested two suspects for illegal possession of pangolin in Primrose, Germiston. W/O Thatohatsi Mavimbela said the bust went down on Friday. "Information was received about two foreign nationals in transit in an e-hailing vehicle suspected to be in possession of a pangolin." "When members of the Soci team arrived at the scene, they found the two suspects, who are crossborder truck drivers from Zambia, carrying one pangolin in a bag."

Wednesday, 2 August 2023
Hartman A 2023. Cops seize unlicensed gun, python skins at Okombahe.

Erongo law enforcement officers on Monday evening arrested a 49-year-old Namibian man at a mini- shop at Okombahe for possessing illegal python skins and an unlicensed revolver. The arrest was a result of an intelligence-led operation, according to Erongo police spokesperson inspector Ileni Shapumba. "The person was found with two python skins, which he kept in a plastic bag in his shop," said Shapumba. The skins are valued at N$60 000. Python is a protected species under the Nature Conservation Act.

Wednesday, 2 August 2023
Motlhabane C 2023. Duo nabbed in possession of a pangolin.

Two Zimbabwean men have been remanded in custody after they were found in possession of a live pangolin.

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