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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 - 29 of 29
Wednesday, 30 June 2021
Leuschner E 2021. Renoster in Etosha gestroop.

’n Renoster is tussen Saterdagnag en Sondag by die Chudop-watergat naby Namutoni in die Etosha Nasionale Park gestroop. Volgens die woordvoerder van die ministerie van die omgewing, bosbou en toerisme, mnr. Romeo Muyunda, is beide die renoster se horings verwyder. "Dit is die eerste renoster wat vanjaar in die park gestroop is. Die renoster is geskiet en die karkas is Sondag ontdek," het hy gesê. Die Chudop-watergat is sowat vyf kilometer suidwes van Namutoni geleë.

Friday, 25 June 2021
Katamzi Z 2021. Two rhino poachers sentenced to 19 years in prison.

Two rhino poachers were sentenced to 19 years imprisonment on Thursday, 24 June, after they were caught with two rhino horns, ammunition, and an axe just outside Kruger National Park around Komatipoort in 2019.

Friday, 25 June 2021
Comins L 2021. Rhino poaching latest: Police recover R2,4 million rhino horn.

Members of the Hawks Organised Investigation Unit searched a vehicle and found rhino horns that suspects were attempting to sell. "The pair were arrested during a buy and bust operation where they allegedly attempted to sell the horns. The suspects' vehicle was searched and two rhino horns worth approximately R2.4 million were found," Rikhotso said.

Friday, 18 June 2021
Tshikalange S 2021. Kruger National Park rhino poacher gets 23-year sentence.

SA National Parks (SANParks) on Friday welcomed the 23-year prison sentence handed to a rhino poacher by the Skukuza regional court prosecuting team. Alsony Alberto Valoyi, an illegal immigrant from Mozambique, pleaded guilty to six charges related to rhino poaching after being arrested inside the Kruger National Park (KNP) in November 2016.

Friday, 18 June 2021
2021. Rhino poaching: 25 incidents, 3 arrests, 1 sentence, 1 kingpin killed in 1 week.

With lockdown restrictions eased since last year, the rhino poaching war has certainly heated up in South Africa. The last seven days have been hectic - a suspected rhino poaching kingpin gunned down just before appearing in court, three suspected poachers arrested in separate incidents (with tourists helping report them), and at least 21 poaching related incidents taking place in the Kruger National Park (KNP) - as well as one successful conviction.

Tuesday, 15 June 2021
Amakali M 2021. 'Prophet' sees another day in custody.

An attempt by the defence of self-proclaimed prophet and founder of the House of Joy Ministries Jackson Babi to have his case provisionally withdrawn, fell flat when the court denied the request. Babi's lawyer Mbanga Siyomunji requested that his client's case be provisionally withdrawn and consequently have Babi released from custody while the State waits for the prosecutor general to pronounce herself in the matter. "The State has failed to inform the court that they failed twice to provide the decision. Now, two months later, the decision is still not available," said Siyomunji…

Friday, 11 June 2021
Moser K 2021. Mit Radioaktivität gegen Wilderer.

Nashornwilderei ist in Afrika wieder zu einem großen Problem geworden. Angesichts steigender Fallzahlen und wachsender Sorgen haben Wissenschaftler in einem Pilotprojekt nun einen neuen Ansatz gewählt: Ein mit Radioaktivität versehenes Horn ist ein zu großes Risiko für Wilderer.

Rhino poaching has become a major problem again in Africa. In view of the increasing number of cases and growing concerns, scientists have now chosen a new approach in a pilot project: a horn provided with radioactivity is too great a risk for poachers.

Wednesday, 9 June 2021
2021. Significant arrests of wildlife crime perpetrators continues.

The latest wildlife crime statistics indicate that four rhinos and one elephant have been poached to date, as law enforcement operations continue to bag perpetrators, an official said this week. From the beginning of June, law enforcement agencies have made significant arrests of wildlife criminals involving products of high valued species across the country, the Ministry of Environment spokesperson, Romeo Muyunda said in an update.

Tuesday, 8 June 2021
Hamalwa F 2021. Cop, soldier nabbed with rhino horns.

Four men, including a police officer and a soldier, are due to appear in the Ohangwena Magistrate’s Court this morning after they were arrested for being in possession of eight rhino horns.

Tuesday, 8 June 2021
Shikongo A 2021. Police, military officers arrested over wildlife crime.

Among the items seized from the suspects are four elephant tusks, two rhino horns, one live pangolin, a giraffe skin and a pangolin skin.

Tuesday, 8 June 2021
Amunga V 2021. Kenya looks to maintain zero rhino poaching record.

Kenya's Wildlife Service says that for the first time in 21 years, not a single rhinoceros was poached in the country's national parks in 2020. To maintain the progress, it is conducting the first ever wildlife census and placing mobile container housing in parks for rangers.

Monday, 7 June 2021
Terblanché N 2021. Rhino calf found dead after weeks of searching.

The search for the missing rhino calf at the Ghaub Nature Reserve ended sadly when the baby's carcass was discovered in the bush. The Director One Namibia, the Ghaub Nature Reserve, and Farm Ghaub, Joachim Rust said their hope to find the calf of Zanna, a rhino cow that was killed by poachers on the farm about three weeks ago, alive never wavered.

Monday, 7 June 2021
2021. Kruger National Park anti-poaching teams conclude May with successful arrests.

South African National Parks (SANParks) has announced further arrests of suspected poachers in the Kruger National Park (KNP), with four men apprehended. The four suspected poachers were arrested on Sunday 30 May in the Pretoriuskop Section and on Monday 31 May in the Houtboschrand Section of the park. On 30 May, rangers (with K9 support) responded to a visual of two poachers and made a follow up in pursuit of the suspected rhino poachers. The Airwing Unit was called in to support the ground teams; and soon thereafter two suspects were arrested without incident.

Monday, 7 June 2021
Kandovazu E 2021. Cop, soldier arrested for poaching.

A Namibian Defense Force (NDF) member and a police officer currently stationed at the Etosha national park were arrested last night after they were found in the possession of rhino horns in Oshikango. Speaking to Informanté, Ohangwena Regional Crime Coordinator Sakaria Amakali said that the two suspected poachers were arrested in a sting operation following a tip off. The value of the horns is not yet known. "The two suspects will only be charged today and appear in the Ohangwena court tomorrow," Amakali stated.

Saturday, 5 June 2021
2021. War on poachers in SA heats up as SANParks arrests another 4 rhino poaching suspects.

SANParks announced today (5 June 2021) that well executed operations at the end of May led to the arrest of four suspected poachers. The first incident was last weekend, on Sunday 30 May in the Pretoriuskop Section, and the other on Monday in the Houtboschrand Section, both located in the South of the Kruger National Park (KNP). SANParks said that rangers (with K9 support) responded last Sunday to a visual of two suspected rhino poachers and went in pursuit of them.

Wednesday, 2 June 2021
Ngema T 2021. Seized trafficked rhino horns under lock and key.

Durban - Rhino horns worth in excess of R230 million intercepted at the OR Tambo International Airport between July last year and February this year were being kept at a secure location, said Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) Barbara Creecy. She was responding to written parliamentary questions submitted by the DA’s David Bryant. He had asked about the whereabouts of the rhino horns and whether they had been destroyed.

Tuesday, 1 June 2021
Kandovazu E 2021. Jackson Babi to appeal bail judgment.

Prophet Jackson Babi has lodged an appeal against a ruling in which a Magistrate denied him bail, saying that the presiding officer misdirected himself when he made the ruling. The appeal was scheduled for hearing in the Windhoek High court today, but will only be heard on 23 June 2021. Babi was arrested on poaching charges and possession of a cellphone while in police custody, as well as bribery. In his heads of argument, Babi claims that during the bail application, no evidence was provided to show he would interfere with investigations if he is granted bail.

Friday, 30 September 2016
Smit E 2016. State wants 6 years for Chinese smugglers.

The State has asked that the four Chinese men found guilty of trying to smuggle 14 rhino horns and a leopard skin from Namibia should be sentenced to six years in prison.

Friday, 30 September 2016
Menges W 2016. Rhino horn smugglers get 14 years in prison.

Four Chinese citizens convicted of having tried to smuggle 14 rhinoceros horns and a leopard skin out of Namibia in March 2014 were sentenced to 14 years' imprisonment each at the end of their trial today.

Friday, 30 September 2016
2016. Chinese smugglers sentenced.

Magistrate doubles up on State's request in rhino case. Li Xiaoliang, Li Zhibing and Pu Xuexin were each sentencef to 14 years imprisonment of which 30 months were suspended for 5 years. The so- called kingpin Wang Hui, also got 14 years of which 28 months was suspended for 5 years. The suspensions came with conditions.

Tuesday, 27 September 2016
Menges W 2016. Poaching could wipe out rhino population.

Namibia could lose its entire rhinoceros population in the next 10 years if the rate at which poachers have been killing these endangered animals in recent years continues unchecked. Poachers have killed 201 rhinos in Namibia since 2011, and their crimes have not only had an environmental impact, but also an economic one.

Monday, 26 September 2016
2016. Rhino poaching case drags on.

The poaching case of former Brave Warriors team medic Gerson Kandjii and five other accused on Friday was postponed to 27 February 2017 for plea and trial in the Okahao Magistrate's Court.

Wednesday, 21 September 2016
2016. Two of five rhino horn accused sentenced.

Two of the five men arrested in Opuwo last year for being found in possession of rhino horns were on Friday sentenced to 11 years and six months’ imprisonment in the Opuwo Magistrate's Court.

Monday, 19 September 2016
Smit E 2016. Chinese rhino smugglers guilty.

The evidence of the Chinese nationals who were arrested in Namibia’s biggest rhino horn smuggling case to date, was rejected by Magistrate Alexis Diergaardt as false and they were found guilty of the possession and export of controlled wildlife products. The landmark case, which has been dragging on for more than two years, finally came to an end on Friday when Diergaardt made her judgment at the Windhoek Regional Court in Katutura finding the four Chinese nationals guilty on two of the three counts they were charged with. Diergaardt said that she found the four men…

Monday, 19 September 2016
Menges W 2016. Chinese men guilty over rhino horns in luggage.

The discovery of a hoard of rhino horns and a leopard skin in two suitcases at Hosea Kutako International Airport in March 2014 led to the conviction of four Chinese citizens on two criminal charges in the Windhoek Regional Court on Friday.

Friday, 16 September 2016
Menges W 2016. Chinese foursome convicted over rhino horns.

Four Chinese citizens who were accused of having tried to smuggle a hoard of rhino horns and one leopard skin out of Namibia in March 2014 were found guilty on two charges in the Windhoek Regional Court today.

Thursday, 15 September 2016
Grobler J 2016. A mysterious dead hand driving Namibia’s poaching.

After a two-year investigation, John Grobler exposes the totem-based networks facilitating transnational rhino horn smuggling and defeating the criminal justice system’s pursuit of suspects.

Monday, 5 September 2016
Hartman A 2016. Black rhino poached at Erindi, 4 arrested.

Three Zambians and a Namibian, the latter suspected to be a former policeman, were arrested last Friday after poaching a black rhino at the Erindi private game reserve near Omaruru.

Thursday, 1 September 2016
Menges W 2016. Chinese man fined over rhino horn in parcel.

A Chinese citizen who tried to send a piece of rhino horn out of Namibia in a parcel was sentenced to pay fines totalling N$40 000 or serve a two-year prison term yesterday.

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