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.
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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…
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SA_2023_05_Police nab alleged rhino poaching kingpin in Limpopo_The Citizen.pdf | 428.78 KB |
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.
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SA_2023_05_Work underway to fight wildlife crime_Bizzcommunity.pdf | 345.25 KB |
"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.
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NAM_2023_05_Killing of rhinos remains illegal_Windhoek Observer.pdf | 274.48 KB |
An alleged rhino poacher, who has been on the run from authorities since 2019, was rearrested in KaBokweni.
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SA_2023_05_Wanted rhino poaching suspect arrested in KaBokweni_Lowvelder.pdf | 283.48 KB |
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.
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NAM_Vyftien renosters vanjaar gestroop_Republikein.pdf | 365.73 KB |
NAM_2023_05_Fifteen rhinos poached this year_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 362.22 KB |
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.
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NAM_2023_05_Fuenfzehn Nashoerner bisher Gewildert_Allgemeine Zeitung.pdf | 338.01 KB |
NAM_2023_05_Fifteen rhinos poached so far_Allgemeine Zeitung_Eng.pdf | 334.96 KB |
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.
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.
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NAM_2023_05_Rhino bull killed and dehorned by poachers near Otjituuo_Namibia News Digest.pdf | 225.66 KB |
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.
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SA_2023_05_Rhino poaching kingpin_Trial adjourned_accuseds bail condition waived_Zululand Observer.pdf | 194.54 KB |
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'.
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
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SA_2023_05_Rhino poaching at local game reserve_George Herald.pdf | 441.9 KB |
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.
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SA_2023_05_Mtubatuba rhino poaching accused plead not guilty_Zululandobserver.pdf | 192.3 KB |
Twee Namibiese mans wat na bewering 'n renoster probeer stroop het, is verlede Woensdag met 'n jaggeweer en ammunisie in hegtenis geneem. Volgens die weeklikse wildmisdaadverslag van die Namibiese polisie se eenheid vir beskermde hulpbronne en die ministerie van die omgewing, bosbou en toerisme se intelligensie- en ondersoekeenheid, is mnre. Mbakondja Tjatindi en Matias Kaurikengererua by Oshakati in hegtenis geneem.
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NAM_2020-03_Twee mans probeer glo renoster stroop_Republikein.pdf | 216.88 KB |
NAM_2020-03_Two men are apparently tried to poach rhino_Republikein.pdf | 217.27 KB |
Twee verdagtes wat glo 'n renoster in die Etosha Nasionale Park gestroop het, is vasgetrek. Die woordvoerder van die ministerie van die omgewing, bosbou en toerisme, mnr. Romeo Muyunda, het vanoggend aan Republikein bevestig dat twee vermeende renosterstropers die naweek in hegtenis geneem is.
Two suspects who allegedly poached a rhino in Etosha National Park were arrested. The spokesman for the Ministry of the Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Mr. Romeo Muyunda confirmed to Republikein this morning that two suspected rhino poachers were arrested over the…
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NAM_2020-03_Twee vermeende renosterstropers vas_Republikein.pdf | 231.63 KB |
NAM_2020-03_Two suspected rhino poachers-Republikein_Eng.pdf | 232.2 KB |
Namibia has lost nine rhinos and one elephant to poaching since the beginning of the year, the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism said Monday. Ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said poaching took place inside private owned farms and the country's national parks, with the latest incident taking place last Friday when one elephant was poached. Two suspects have since been arrested.
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NAM_2020-03_Namibia loses 9 rhinos 1 elephant to poaching since January_China Org.pdf | 138.95 KB |
The Namibia Police Force arrested and charged 16 suspects on charges of rhino or elephant poaching and conspiracy of elephant poaching last week. Police also confiscated five firearms, rounds of ammunitions and a motor vehicle. Among other items which were recovered during the anti-poaching operation are; varied wild life products such as four elephant tusks, a pangolin skin , two duiker carcasses, one waterbuck carcass and one warthog carcass.
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NAM_2020-03_Sixteen arrested for poaching_New Era.pdf | 193.82 KB |
On the flip side, among other features is the black rhino which faces extinction. Namibia is one of the vestiges of the black rhino, one of the world's most endangered animal species.
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NAM_2020-03_Namibia launches new N30 note_The Namibian.pdf | 853.38 KB |
The term 'poacher' is often used for anyone involved in wildlife crime. In reality, wildlife crime functions through a complex web of criminals, where the poachers – the people carrying out the illegal killing of an animal to initiate the trade in its parts – are at the lowest level.
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NAM_03_2020_Rhino poaching and the inside job_The Namibian.pdf | 570.97 KB |
Die Population des Spitzmaulnashorns in Afrika hat sich nach den dramatischen Einbrüchen seit den 70er Ja Zahl der Tiere in der Wildnis von geschätzten 4845 auf 5630 Exemplare, wie die Weltnaturschutzunion (IUCN) am Donner (Diceros bicornis) vom Aussterben bedroht.
Three suspected rhino poachers who allegedly strayed into Bubye Conservancy in Mazunga area in Beitbridge district, where they intended to poison wildlife were on Thursday denied bail by the High Court.
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ZIM_2020-03_Three suspected rhino poachers found with pesticide denied bail_The Chronicle.pdf | 284.18 KB |
The trial of six men facing rhino-poaching charges continued in the Grahamstown High Court this week. East London residents Francis Chitiyo, Trymore Chauke, Misheck Chauke, Simba Masinge and Nhamo Muyambo, and Abraham Moyane were arrested in July 2018 during Operation Full Moon – the Eastern Cape Rhino Task Team’s code name for its anti-poaching operations. All six have since been in custody. They are accused on four counts.
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SA_2020-03_Poaching trial to resume in May_Grocotts Mail.pdf | 831.45 KB |
Despite significant anti-poaching efforts, the rhino poaching onslaught continues unabated in Botswana with 47 rhinos lost to poachers over the last 12 months. This has devastated Botswana’s rhino populations and significantly set back the work of Rhino Conservation Botswana. For the past two decades we have worked with the Government of Botswana and private sector partners to bring rhinos from high poaching areas in South Africa and Zimbabwe into Botswana’s Okavango Delta.
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BOT_2020-03_Media Release Rhino poaching in Botswana _9 March 2020 final.pdf | 187.03 KB |