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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Three Namibians were nabbed last week after they were caught in possession of close to 450 kilograms of protected plants, estimated to be worth nearly N$80 000. According to the Namibian Police, the three men - aged 27, 30 and 37 - were caught at the Namasira police checkpoint in the Kavango West Region last Friday. Police discovered the men were transporting seven 150-kilogram bags containing 176 gouty-vine (cyphostemma) plants weighing, 429 kilograms in total. The pants were valued at N$79 288.
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NAM_2024_03_Three men caught with protected plants worth NS80 000_Namibian Sun.pdf | 204.71 KB |
Drie mans is die afgelope naweek in hegtenis geneem nadat hulle met beskermde plantspesies van ongeveer N$80 000 in die Kavango-Wesstreek betrap is. "Die drie verdagtes van onderskeidelik 27, 30 en 37 jaar oud, is Vrydag by die Namasira-polisiekontrolepunt gearresteer nadat hulle met 7 x 150 kg-sakke Cyphostemma, met 'n gewig van sowat 429 kg en ter waarde van N$79 288, betrap is," lui die Namibiese polisie se misdaadverslag. Volgens die verslag het die verdagtes nie 'n permit gehad wat hulle goedkeuring verleen het om die spesifieke beskermde plantspesies te oes of te vervoer…
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NAM_2024_03_Mans betrap met beskermde plante_Republikein.pdf | 236.41 KB |
NAM_2024_03_Men caught with protoected plants_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 237.08 KB |
A Nairobi court has frozen ownership of a Mercedes Benz and a block of residential flats built on prime land within Allsops area in Ruaraka belonging to televangelist and businessman Jackson Mbugua Burugu. This is in connection with a case of poaching that is pending in court. Lady Justice Diana Kavedza of the Nairobi Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Division issued the freezing order following a suit filed by the Asset Recovery Agency. Burugu is a prominent Nairobi-based televangelist who is commonly referred to as 'Bishop'.
South Africa's Succulent Karoo is home to flora that occur nowhere else on earth. But a rapidly escalating onslaught by criminal networks threatens many of these rare species. This webinar will showcase insights from a new ENACT report that explores the illegal market for ornamental succulents, focusing on South Africa’s multistakeholder efforts to counter the trade. Speakers will highlight key challenges and opportunities, and put forward recommendations to improve responses.
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SA_Growing_growing_gone_safeguarding SAs illegally traded succulents_ISS Africa.pdf | 109.38 KB |
Assets and goods seized and forfeited to the state during the finalisation of wildlife crime cases at special courts last year were valued at more than N$4 million. The seized items included illegal wildlife products, firearms and vehicles used in wildlife crimes. According to the Wildlife Protection and Law Enforcement Report in Namibia, the judicial system faces a range of challenges in dealing with high rates of crime and ensuring justice is served; a central hurdle is a growing backlog of cases on the court rolls. "This has…
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NAM_2023_07_Special wildlife crime courts highly effective_Namibian Sun.pdf | 332.47 KB |
Trafficking of live plants, particularly rare and endemic succulents and pachycauls, has exploded as an illegal trade threatening rare species in Namibia. According to the Wildlife Protection and Law Enforcement in Namibia report for 2022, the first cases were only registered last year. However, high volumes of live plants have already been seized and numerous suspects arrested. The report indicated that 11 cases were registered last year and 22 suspects were arrested, with two convictions.
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NAM_2023_07_Trafficking of endemic Namibian succulents surges_Namibian Sun.pdf | 354.24 KB |
Burke het 'n lys van bedreigings saamgestel wat die plante in die Sperrgebiet se voortbestaan belemmer. Eerstens noem Burke klimaatsverandering, "ons weet nie hoe die plante daarop gaan reageer nie." Dit is egter duidelik dat hulle in die toekoms aan groter stresfaktore blootgestel sal word. Mynbou vernietig ook habitatte. Dit is egter danksy diamantontginning dat hierdie diversiteit hoegenaamd in die beperkte gebied kon oorleef." Vir 'n geruime tyd al is ’n deel van die beperkte gebied ook vir die publiek oopgestel.
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NAM_2023_07_Endemiese plante in gevaar_Republikein.pdf | 297.28 KB |
NAM_2023_07_Endemic plants in danger_Republikei_Eng.pdf | 296.94 KB |
Handel in lewende plante, veral skaars en endemiese vetplante en pachycauls (wat die kremetart en halfmens insluit), het die hoogte ingeskiet as 'n groeiende sektor - wat 'n bedreiging vir seldsame spesies in Namibië inhou. Luidens die verslag oor wildbeskerming en wetstoepassing in Namibië vir 2022 is die eerste sake eers verlede jaar aanhangig gemaak. Daar is egter reeds op groot hoeveelhede lewende plante beslag gelê en talle verdagtes is in hegtenis geneem. Luidens die verslag is 11 sake verlede jaar geregistreer,…
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NAM_2023_07_Handel in indemiese plante neem toe_Republikein.pdf | 328.99 KB |
NAM_2023_07_Trade in endemic succulents is increasing_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 217.44 KB |
The Hawks in Springbok arrested a duo for being in possession of Conophytum with an estimated value of R168,435. Two suspects, aged 22 and 28, were arrested on Thursday, by a multiple disciplinary team composed of Springbok DPCI, Upington counter-narcotics, Steinkopf SAPS, and Namakwa public order policing.
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SA_2023_07_Two nabbed in Northern Cape for possession of protected plants_IOL.pdf | 133.58 KB |
Nationalpark Sperrgebiet: Sorge um seltene Pflanzen ist groß. Im Nationalpark Tsau //Khaeb (Sperrgebiet) gibt es Pflanzen, die sonst nirgends auf der Welt zu finden sind. Wissenschaftlerin Antje Burke bangt um die Zukunft der Endemiten. Durch Tourismus, Bergbau und Pflanzenwilderei könnten sie aussterben.
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NAM_2023_07_Endemische Pflanzen Bedroht_Allgemeine Zeitung.pdf | 150 KB |
NAM_2023_07_Endemic plants under threat_Allgemeine Zeitung_Eng.pdf | 40.71 KB |
Succulent poaching, fuelled by the illicit trade it sustains, is emerging as a pressing global concern, threatening the existence of these remarkable plants. The increasing demand fuels a lucrative illicit market, endangering their existence in the wild. The climate crisis and the destruction of natural habitats further exacerbate the challenges faced by these unique plants.
Kenya will enhance partnerships with neighboring countries and regional blocs in a bid to protect abundant natural resources like wildlife from the clutches of organized crime, an official has said.
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KEN_2023_-07_Kenya vows to combat illegal trade in iconic species via enhanced partnership_NewsGhana.pdf | 528.08 KB |