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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 - 19 of 19
Monday, 29 May 2023
Lebake T 2023. Police nab alleged rhino poaching kingpin in Limpopo.

The suspect is allegedly linked to a series of cases including murder, racketeering and rhino poaching committed in Mpumalanga. An alleged kingpin of a rhino poaching syndicate is due to appear in the Hoedspruit Periodical Court in Limpopo on Monday after he was arrested at the weekend. The 59-year-old man, who is alleged to be a kingpin of a rhino poaching syndicate that operates between Mpumalanga and Limpopo, was arrested on Saturday in the Mopani District of Limpopo during a joint intelligence operation conducted by the Provincial Stock Theft Unit, Hoedspruit police…

Friday, 19 May 2023
2023. Work underway to fight wildlife crime.

Government is working around the clock to fight wildlife crime and corruption, especially in the Kruger National Park, says Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister, Barbara Creecy.

Thursday, 11 May 2023
2023. Killing of rhinos remains illegal.

"There are conservation policies in the Ministry that deal with those illegal actions of poaching. Rhinos are protected by the Controlled Wildlife Products and Trade Act Nine (9) of 2008, which still contains penalties widely viewed as being woefully inadequate in light of the value of the illegal trade in animal products such as elephant tusks, rhino horn and pangolin scales", Muyunda stressed.

Tuesday, 9 May 2023
2023. Wanted rhino poaching suspect arrested in KaBokweni.

An alleged rhino poacher, who has been on the run from authorities since 2019, was rearrested in KaBokweni.

Tuesday, 9 May 2023
Smit E, Bause T 2023. Vyftien renosters vanjaar gestroop.

Altesaam 15 renosters is vanjaar gestroop, teenoor 87 in 2022 en 45 in 2021. Die laaste renoster is tussen 1 en 28 April op 'n private plaas in die Grootfontein-omgewing gestroop. Die karkas is eers verlede week ontdek en die ondersoek dui daarop dat die dier twee keer met 'n jaggeweer geskiet is.

Monday, 8 May 2023
Reiter C 2023. Fünfzehn Nashörner bisher gewildert.

In diesem Jahr wurden bisher fünfzehn Nashörner gewildert, verglichen mit 77 im Jahr 2022 und 45 im Jahr 2021. Beim jüngsten Vorfall wurde ein Spitzmaulnashorn zwischen dem 1. und 28. April auf einer privaten Farm bei Grootfontein gewildert. Der Nashornkadaver wurde offenbar erst in der vergangenen Woche entdeckt. Untersuchungen deuten darauf hin, dass das Tier zweimal mit einem Jagdgewehr geschossen wurde. Der Sprecher des Umweltministeriums, Romeo Muyunda, bestätigte den Vorfall und erklärte, dass die Ermittlungen noch andauern und es noch keine Verhaftungen gegeben habe.

Sunday, 7 May 2023
2023. Hunt for suspected rhino poacher who fled on foot after abandoning a package near George.

Cape Town - The Oudtshoorn stock theft and endangered species unit is investigating a case of illegal hunting of endangered species after a rhino horn was seized by police on the N2 near George on Wednesday. Following a high-speed pursuit with police, a car reportedly stopped just outside of George and dumped a package containing a rhino horn.

Friday, 5 May 2023
2023. Rhino bull killed and dehorned by poachers near Otjituuo.

The Otjozondjupa police have launched an investigation into a poaching incident of a black rhino bull which was allegedly shot and killed on a private game farm near Otjituuo in the Grootfontein district.Namibian Police Force Unit Commander for Communication. The Otjozondjupa police have launched an investigation into a poaching incident of a black rhino bull which was allegedly shot and killed on a private game farm near Otjituuo in the Grootfontein district.

Thursday, 4 May 2023
Zulu G 2023. Rhino poaching 'kingpin' trial: Magistrate cautions witness about speculation.

Day three of the rhino poaching trial involving alleged 'kingpin' Dumisani Gwala and his co-accused Wiseman Mageba is under way at Mtubatuba Regional Court, following cross-examination of the State witness yesterday (Wednesday). Magistrate Anand Maharaj, presiding over the case, on Wednesday cautioned State witness - former SAPS investigating officer of the case Jean Pierre van zyl Roux - about speculating about allegations that Gwala had the 'police in his pocket'.

Thursday, 4 May 2023
Kolberg K 2023. Rhino poached at local game reserve.

George Herald's sister publication, Mossel Bay Advertiser, confirmed that it is the horn of one of the white rhinos at Botlierskop Private Game Reserve. The reserve is situated just outside Little Brak River. According to a source close to George Herald, the suspects were stopped at a roadblock between George and Wilderness where the rhino horn was found in their possession. The horn was confiscated but the suspects managed to flee from police. By the time of going to print on Wednesday morning, the suspects were still at large and

Thursday, 4 May 2023
Zulu G 2023. Rhino poaching 'kingpin': Trial adjourned, accused's bail condition waived.

The rhino poaching trial in which Wiseman Mageba and Dumisani Gwala are co-accused was today (Thursday) adjourned to July owing to the State prosecutor’s unavailability because of a family tragedy.

Tuesday, 2 May 2023
Zulu G 2023. Mtubatuba rhino poaching accused plead not guilty.

Wiseman Mageba and his co-accused Dumisani Gwala have pleaded not guilty to rhino
poaching allegations in a case which resumed at Mtubatuba Regional Court today
(Tuesday). The pair face a combined 12 charges relating to the alleged illegal purchase and possession
of rhino horn, resisting arrest, and attempted murder.

Thursday, 29 June 2017
Smit E 2017. Rhino death toll rises.

Seven more rhinos have been killed by poachers in Etosha, driving the species ever closer to extinction. Seven rhino carcasses discovered during aerial patrols in the Etosha National Park at the weekend have been confirmed to have been poached. This brings the total of poached rhinos to 16 this year, while there have also been 16 elephants poached this year. Altogether 59 rhinos were poached in the country last year and 95 rhinos in 2015, 56 in 2014 and 9 in 2013.

Thursday, 29 June 2017
2017. Seven rhinos poached in Etosha.

Seven of the eight rhino carcasses found at the Etosha National Park this week show that the animals had been poached. According to the environment ministry's chief public relations officer, Romeo Muyunda, the eighth animal had died of natural causes. In a statement yesterday, he said no arrests had been made, and reiterated the government's offer of N$60 000 for anyone providing information which could lead to the apprehension of the suspects. The eight rhino carcasses were discovered in the park between 23 and 25 June 2017.

Wednesday, 28 June 2017
Smit E 2017. Seven rhino carcasses found in Etosha.

Seven rhino carcasses of which several have already been confirmed to be poached, were discovered in the Etosha National Park this past weekend during routine patrols by officials of the Ministry of Environment and Tourism. Ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda yesterday confirmed to Namibian Sun that during patrols in the park between 23 and 25 June seven rhino carcasses were discovered. "The carcasses are all believed to be for this year."

Tuesday, 27 June 2017
Smit E 2017. New wildlife law tough as nails.

The bill, amongst others, proposes that foreigners who are found guilty of wildlife crimes will not be allowed back in Namibia after completing their jail terms. This will apply to foreigners who are found guilty of possession of, and dealing in, elephant and rhino products.

Monday, 26 June 2017
Menges W 2017. Arrest warrant issued in rhino horn case.

A Chinese man who was arrested and charged after the police found two rhinoceros horns at a rented flat in Windhoek early this year is now a fugitive from justice, having failed to attend a scheduled court appearance last week. With the 29-year-old Chen Nan absent from the Windhoek Magistrate's Court, where he was supposed to appear for the first time since being granted bail in April, magistrate Vanessa Stanley on Wednesday issued a warrant for his arrest, provisionally cancelled his bail and provisionally declared his bail deposit of N$300 000 forfeited to…

Thursday, 22 June 2017
2017. Suspected poacher dodges court.

Chinese national Nan Chen, arrested in January this year for illegal possession of two rhino horns, is allegedly on the run. The 29-year-old Nan, who is free on bail of N$300 000, was scheduled to make another appearance in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court yesterday, but was absent, and his privately-instructed defence lawyer Kadhila Amoomo also did not know his whereabouts.

Wednesday, 7 June 2017
Tjihenuna T 2017. Suspected poachers remanded in custody.

The four suspected poachers who were arrested on Saturday following a shoot-out with the police at Khorixas will remain in custody after the court denied them bail.

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