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.
Explore your search results using the filter checkboxes, or amend your search or start a new search.
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.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2023_12_Rhino poaching decreased by half_Namibian Sun.pdf | 337.23 KB |
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.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
SA_2023_12_Turning the tide We have lost just one rhino in 350 days_Sabi Sand_Daily Maverick.pdf | 734.07 KB |
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.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2023_12_Organised crime low in Namibia_Namibian Sun.pdf | 333.63 KB |
An alleged rhino poacher who has been in custody for the past six months was granted bail last week.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
SA_2023_12_Alleged rhino poaching kingpin Big Joe granted bail_Caxton Network News.pdf | 213.67 KB |
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 Chinese man who smuggled 18 rhino horns through Hosea Kutako International Airport and was arrested in South Africa has been sentenced to a fine of R1.2 million or six years in prison. He paid the fine and will not spend any time in prison. Ye Zhiwei appeared before the Kempton Park Magistrate's Court last Wednesday.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2017-04_No jail for rhino_horn smuggler_ Namibian Sun.pdf | 70.55 KB |
Two men accused of possession of a pair of rhino horns were denied bail by the Walvis Bay Magistrate's Court yesterday. Petrus Mutako Damaseb, 49, and Isak Steven Omeb, 29, both from Okahandja, appeared before Magistrate John Sindano on charges under the Controlled Wildlife Products and Trade Act and the Possession of Controlled Wildlife Products Act.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2017-04_Rhino_horn suspects denied bail_Namibian Sun.pdf | 66.56 KB |
A defence force member and two other men from Okahandja appeared in the Walvis Bay Magistrate's Court yesterday on charges of possessing two rhino horns. The soldier, Petrus Mutako Damaseb (49), who is based at Okahandja, and Steven Omeb (29), appeared in court yesterday and were denied bail, while the third man was released due to lack of evidence linking him to the alleged crime.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2017-04_Three in dock over rhino horns_The Namibian.pdf | 262.04 KB |
Gerson Kandjii (51), who is facing multiple charges in four separate criminal cases, was granted N$2 500 bail by the Windhoek Regional court in Katutura on Wednesday. The bail was granted in a case of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, in which he was arrested in December last year. Magistrate Johannes Shuveni postponed the case to 22 May.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2017-04_Kandjii granted bail_remains behind bars_Namibian Sun.pdf | 91.11 KB |
An outdated law stipulating lenient sentences for wildlife smuggling has led to the granting of bail to two alleged rhino-horn smugglers. The two Chinese nationals who were arrested in January for possession of rhino horns worth more than N$400 000 were granted bail of N$300 000 each yesterday. Yonghui Lu, 41, and Nan Chen, 29, appeared before Magistrate Venessa Stanley in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court and the case was postponed to 21 June for further investigation.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2017-04_Two Chinese granted bail _Namibian Sun.pdf | 84.92 KB |
Foreigners who are found guilty of wildlife crimes will not be allowed back in Namibia after completing their jail terms. This is but one of the amendments contained in the Controlled Wildlife Products and Trade Amendment Bill that was tabled in the National Assembly by the minister of environment and tourism, Pohamba Shifeta, last week. This will apply to foreigners who are found guilty of possession of, and dealing in, elephant and rhino products. Shifeta said a court order would be issued and the person would be declared persona non grata after serving his or…
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2017-04_Lifelong ban for poaching convicts_Namibian Sun_2017.pdf | 68.87 KB |
Anyone found illegally selling controlled wildlife will be fined N$25 million instead of the current N$20 000, while jail time which is five now goes up to 20 years.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2017-04_NS25m or 20 years for illegal wildlife sales_The Namibian.pdf | 480.63 KB |
The poaching case against Gerson Kandjii (51) and four co-accused charged with killing rhinos on a Gobabis farm in December has been postponed to May. The five men remain in custody. Kandjii, a former Brave Warriors physiotherapist, made another appearance before the Gobabis Magistrate's Court on Friday on poaching charges, following three months behind bars after his arrest in late December.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2017-04_Kandjii court cases continue_Namibian Sun.pdf | 94.99 KB |
Anyone found illegally selling controlled wildlife will be fined N$25 million instead of the current N$20 000, while jail time which is five now goes up to 20 years.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2017-04_N$25m or 20 years for illegal wildlife sales_The Namibian.pdf | 480.63 KB |