Search results

The Texan faces accusations of violating South African law after several carcasses were found that had no paperwork. A controversial figure in the rhino horn trade debate was arrested last week after more than 20 rhino carcasses were found at his game farm in Limpopo. The arrest of Derek Lewitton was made by the Hawk, after they investigated his Harmony game farm for more than 16 hours. During the searches, members of the Hawks discovered multiple rhino carcasses missing their horns.

A rhino poacher who was in the process of sawing o the horn of a White Rhino at the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park (HiP) in KwaZulu-Natal has been arrested just moments after he shot the majestic beast. During the arrest, the HiP Park Manager, Amos Khetha Tembe was injured and was rushed to hospital. The rhino also succumbed to its injuries from the bullets pumped into it by the poacher.

Environment ministry executive director Teofilus Nghitila says 48 rhinos have been poached so far this year. The figure shows a decrease from the 92 animals poached last year. Meanwhile, eight elephants were poached this year - compared to four last year - but this still much better than the previous years' figures, which reached 27 in 2018. The ministry – in collaboration with various law enforcement agencies - set up a response team when poaching skyrocketed in 2013.

South Africa's most exclusive enclave of private nature reserves reveals their hidden security nerve centre - and shows what they've done to thwart horn poachers for nearly a record year.

Namibia's average criminal market score was 4.1, an increase of 0.2 since 2021. The country scored 3.5 on human trafficking and 4.5 in arms trafficking. For flora crimes, Namibia scored 6.5, and for fauna crimes - which would include rhino poaching and the linked trade in horns - it scored 4.5.

An alleged rhino poacher who has been in custody for the past six months was granted bail last week.

Namibia experienced a decrease in rhino poaching this year, registering 42 cases compared to 87 the previous year, but saw an increase in elephant poaching, reaching eight cases, up from four the year before, an official said Monday. In an interview with Xinhua, the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said that while rhino poaching numbers have decreased by half, elephant poaching numbers are on the rise. "Poaching is dynamic. While we are winning the fight against the illegal killing of rhinos, elephant poaching is picking up," he said.

The police anti-poaching unit has since June this year arrested 48 people for alleged rhino poaching. About 22 of those arrested appeared in the Okahao Magistrate's Court in Omusati Region last month, while an unspecified number of suspects were released, pending further police investigations.

The anti-poaching organisation Conserving Our Valuable Elephant and Rhino (Cover) said yesterday that an investigation by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) into the misuse of funds raised to help protect rhino is in an advanced stage. At the same time the founder of Cover, Jofie Lamprecht, responded to recent criticism against the organisation and gave an update about the first private anti-poaching unit that has been trained by French outfit Wildlife Angel.

The Government has warned against poaching, as this may jeopardize the Namibian economy and also lead to the extinction of wild animals. The Minister of Information and Communication Technology Tjekero Tweya said poaching has negative consequences for the economy as it depletes the country’s wildlife and if there is no wildlife, no income would be generated through hunting. “This is the hunting season, and if we do not have wildlife, lodges and game reserves won’t be able to generate income as there would be no animals which could be hunted. It is not good if there…

The four Chinese men accused of having tried to smuggle a hoard of rhino horns out of Namibia in March last year is due to continue in the Windhoek Regional Court in September.

In the trial involving four Chinese nationals arrested for trying to smuggle 14 rhino horns out of the country, the state witness was hammered during cross examination for omitting certain facts. Li Zinbing, Li Xiaoliang, Pu Xuexin and Wang Hui appeared in the Windhoek Regional Court at Katutura on Friday. They were arrested on charges of attempting to smuggle rhino horns worth more than N$2,3 million and a leopard skin worth N$50 000 out of the country.