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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 - 16 of 16
Tuesday, 20 August 2024
2024. KZN game reserve masters the art of rhino conservation.

Somkhanda Game Reserve has embraced the latest tracking technology in their fight against rhino poaching within the reserve. The game reserve, based in the Zululand District in KwaZulu-Natal, carried out a successful three-day rhino dehorning project last month, during which they also implemented tracking technology to key individuals in the herds.

Monday, 19 August 2024
Haidula T 2024. Authorities vow tough action against poachers.

Oshikoto police regional commander Commissioner Teopolina Kalompo-Nashikaku has issued a stern warning to poachers, saying they risk their lives by engaging with armed anti-poaching units. Without mincing her words, she warned that the authorities are committed to protecting the country's fauna and flora and said poachers risk their own lives if they shoot at security personnel deployed to safeguard wildlife species.

Wednesday, 14 August 2024
David M 2024. Thirty rhino poached in six months.

Over 30 rhinos were reportedly poached in a period of six months alone in the Etosha National Park. The Namibian Police Force (NamPol) Oshikoto Regional Commander, Commissioner Teopolina Kalompo-Nashikaku revealed this on Wednesday at a briefing with Oshana Governor Elia Irimari, constituency councillors and traditional authority councillors, on the fight against wildlife crimes in and around Etosha.

Thursday, 1 August 2024
Pillay T 2024. Drop in South Africa's rhino poaching linked to dehorning programmes.

South Africa recorded 229 rhinos poached in the first half of 2024, a slight decline from the same period last year, and the government said global cooperation is essential to save the rare animals. Poaching poses the biggest threat to the rhino population in South Africa where at least one rhino is killed for their horns every day. Rhino horns - made primarily of keratin, a protein also found in human hair and fingernails - are prized in some East Asian countries for traditional medicine and jewellery.

Thursday, 1 August 2024
Sewsunker A 2024. Downward trend in rhino poaching numbers.
The department said that during the first six months of 2024, 229 rhinos were poached in South Africa (compared to 231 for the same reporting period in 2023).
Thursday, 27 February 2020
Steynberg F 2020. Drie stroop glo renoster in Etosha:  'Ietermagôsmokkelaars' kry borg.

Vanaf 17 tot 23 Februarie is beslag op twee renosterhorings gelê. Drie vermeende renosterstropers in die Etosha Nasionale Park, mnre. Festus Simon, Johannes Valombola en Efraim Malakia, is op 18 Februarie by Okahao in hegtenis geneem. Volgens die polisie is twee renosterhorings, twee .303-jaggewere, 30 patrone en 'n voertuig gekonfiskeer. 

Wednesday, 26 February 2020
2020. Senior cop arrested over rhino poaching.

A senior police ocer at Oshakati’s protected resources unit was the mastermind behind the poaching incidences which occurred in Etosha National Park last month.

Tuesday, 25 February 2020
2020. Nege vas oor renosterhorings.

Nege verdagtes is verlede week in verband met renosterstropery of -horingsmokkelary in hegtenis geneem. Volgens die wildmisdaadverslag van 17 tot 23 Februarie is beslag op twee renosterhorings gelê. Een likkewaan, 58 ammunisie, vyf vuurwapens en een voertuig is ook gekonfiskeer.

Nine suspects were arrested in connection with rhino poaching or horn smuggling last week. According to the wildlife crime report of 17 to 23 February, two rhino horns were seized. 

Saturday, 22 February 2020
de Klerk M 2020. South Africa Mozambique cooperation reduces rhino poaching .

Kruger National Park, South Africa - Officials at South African National Parks say cooperation with neighboring Mozambique has been a key factor in reducing rhinoceros poaching in the famous Kruger National Park. Kruger is home to the world's largest wild rhino population, and has proven a tempting target for poachers who for years jumped the park’s borders.

Thursday, 20 February 2020
2020. Ses vermeende smokkelaars kry borg.

Ses vermeende renosterhoringsmokkelaars is verlede week in Namibiese howe op borgtog van N$20 000 elk vrygelaat.

Six suspected rhino horn smugglers were released in Namibian courts last week on bail of N $ 20,000 each.

Thursday, 20 February 2020
2020. Six suspected smugglers get bail.

The alleged rhino poachers mr. Mapole Tjipopyeni, Thomas Eino, Hofni Mengeri and Petena Karure appeared in court last Monday at Omaruru for the start of their trial.

Wednesday, 19 February 2020
Sicetsha A 2020. Rhino poachers stopped in their tracks by KZN police.

Law enforcement officials in Hluhluwe and Mtubatuba, KwaZulu-Natal, have been applauded for the stellar work they displayed in intercepting a group of rhino poachers who were on the verge of claiming the life of one of these endangered animals.

Monday, 17 February 2020
2020. Role players force rhino poaching into decline (South Africa).

Rhino poaching in South Africa continues to decline as additional steps are taken by the government to ensure the crime is effectively dealt with.

Monday, 17 February 2020
Glasson A 2020. The rhino rifle syndicates.

The rampant increase in wildlife poaching has been widely acknowledged as one of the greatest threats to biodiversity conservation in Africa. The Asian demand for rhinoceros horn has seen a massive onslaught on the white rhino (Ceratotherium simum) and black rhino (Diceros bicornis) populations. Since 2008, there has been a gradual and then explosive growth in rhino poaching in South Africa and, to a lesser extent, Mozambique and Botswana.

Attachment Size
SA_2020-02 South Africa _GGA.pdf 532.91 KB
Monday, 17 February 2020
Gauteng poacher gets 24 years for killing nine rhinos (South Africa).

A rhino poacher was sentenced to an effective 24 years imprisonment after he was convicted of 10 counts of rhino poaching, ve counts of theft, two counts of illegal possession of ammunition, illegal possession of rearm, possession of a prohibited rearm, cruelty to animals and money laundering by Free State High Court sitting in Virginia.

Thursday, 6 February 2020
Smit E 2020. Poaching declines, arrests increase (Namibia).

Over the past ve years, there has been an overall decline in rhino and elephant poaching, with a major increase in arrests. This was shared yesterday by environment minister Pohamba Shifeta during his 2020 opening speech. Last year, a total of 45 rhinos were poached in comparison to 74 in 2018 and 55 in 2017. In 2016, 61 rhinos were poached, and 97 in 2015. According to Shifeta, two rhinos have been poached to date this year. As for elephants, 12 were poached last year, 27 in 2018 and 50 in 2017. In 2016, a total of 101 elephants were poached and 49 in 2015.

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