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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.

Explore your search results using the filter checkboxes, or amend your search or start a new search.

Displaying results 1 - 50 of 50
Tuesday, 31 January 2023
2023. Namibia rhino poaching surged 93% in 2022.

The number of endangered rhinos poached in Namibia reached an all-time high last year after 87 animals were killed compared to 45 in 2021, official government data showed on Monday. The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said poachers killed 61 black and 26 white rhinos mainly in Namibia's largest park, Etosha, where 46 rhinos were found dead.

Tuesday, 31 January 2023
2023. Wildlife poaching declines in Zimbabwe in 2022.

Zimbabwe recorded a decline in wildlife poaching last year as the nation’s anti-poaching activities continued to bear fruit, the spokesperson for the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority said Monday. A total of 36 key wildlife animals were poached in 2022, down from 42 in 2021, Tinashe Farawo said. Out of the 42 wild animals killed in 2021, 31 were elephants while rhinos totaled 11, including six white rhinos and five black ones, he said. Out of the 36 wild animals poached last year, 25 were elephants, seven rhinos and four lions, he said.

Tuesday, 31 January 2023
Angula V 2023. Namibian authorities concerned about increase in rhino poaching.

Namibian authorities say poachers killed 87 rhinos last year, almost double the number killed in 2021 in a country that is home to the world's largest free roaming black rhino population. Conservationists say poachers seeking rhino horns for Asian markets are targeting Namibia's commercial farms. Simson Uri-Khob, chief executive officer of the Save the Rhino Trust, told VOA there have been almost no incidents of rhino poaching in Namibia's rhino conservancies for the past 30 months.

Tuesday, 31 January 2023
Nakashole P 2023. 87 rhinos poached last year.

Etosha National Park has become a poaching hotspot, as rhino poaching remains a serious concern in the country, the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has said in an update on poaching. According to a statement released by the ministry's spokesperson, Romeo Muyunda yesterday, 87 rhinos were poached last year, 61 of them black rhinos and 26 white rhinos.

Tuesday, 31 January 2023
2023. Rampant poaching at Etosha threatens tourism economy.

The government has expressed grave concern over increased poaching recorded at one of the country's leading tourism destinations, the Etosha National Park. Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism's spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said the government is employing new strategies to curb poaching, which is detrimental to the economy and the tourism industry. Government statistics show that 87 rhinos were poached in 2022, consisting of 61 black rhinos and 26 white rhinos.

Tuesday, 31 January 2023
Nakale A 2023. Etosha remains poaching hotspot.

The environment and tourism ministry has said rhino poaching remains a serious concern with 87 rhinos poached in 2022, consisting of 61 black rhinos and 26 white rhinos. The ministry’s spokesperson, Romeo Muyunda, yesterday said the 2022 poaching cases include 15 rhinos poached on rhino custodianship farms, another 25 on white rhino private farms and a majority of 46 were killed in the Etosha National Park.

Tuesday, 31 January 2023
2023. Jumbo poaching figures decline - Rhino poaching remains a serious concern.

In a poaching update of high-value species, namely elephants and rhinos, the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) spokesperson Romeo Muyunda revealed that the elephant poaching cases have dropped from 101 recorded in 2015, to 50 in 2017, 27 in 2018, 13 in 2019, 12 in 2020, 10 in 2021 and only four in 2022. The four poached elephants in 2022 include two in the Zambezi Region, one in the Kavango West Region, and one in the Kunene Region, according to Muyunda. "We hope that these figures will continue to descend until we reach the zero-poaching target.

Tuesday, 31 January 2023
2023. Namibia records drastic drop in elephant poaching.

In a poaching update of high-value species, namely elephants and rhinoceros in Namibia, Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) spokesperson Romeo Muyunda revealed that the elephant poaching cases have dropped from 101 recorded in 2015, to 50 in 2017, 27 in 2018, 13 in 2019, 12 in 2020, 10 in 2021 and only four in 2022. "The four poached elephants in 2022 include two in the Zambezi Region, one in the Kavango West Region, and one in the Kunene Region", - according to Muyunda. "We hope that these figures will continue to descend until we reach the zero-…

Tuesday, 31 January 2023
2023. Rhino poaching surges 93 percent in Namibia.

The number of endangered rhinos poached in Namibia reached an all-time high last year after 87 animals were killed compared with 45 in 2021, official government data has shown. Africa's rhino population has been decimated over the decades to feed the demand for rhino horn, which, despite being made of the same material as rhino hair and fingernails, is prized in East Asia as a supposed medicine and as jewellery.

Tuesday, 31 January 2023
Wright G 2023. Namibia reports record level of rhino poaching.

The number of endangered rhinos poached in Namibia last year was the highest on record and almost twice as many as the year before, officials say. A total of 87 rhinos were killed compared with 45 in 2021, official government data show. Most were poached in Etosha, Namibia's biggest national park, officials say.

Tuesday, 31 January 2023
2023. Namibia rhino poaching surges to record level, blame on cross-border syndicates.

The number of endangered rhinos poached in Namibia reached the highest level on record in 2022, as twice as many animals - 87 compared to 45 - were killed in 2021, official government data showed on Monday (30 January). Africa's rhino population has been decimated over the decades to feed demand for rhino horn, which, despite being made of the same stuff as rhino hair and fingernails, is prized in East Asia as jewelry and fake medicine. The horns are worth tens of thousands of dollars in illegal Asian markets.

Tuesday, 31 January 2023
Broughton T 2023. Rhino poacher slapped with additional four years in prison by appeal court.

An appeal court has increased the prison sentence of a rhino poacher from 11 to 15 years.

Monday, 30 January 2023
2023. 80, rhinos, four elephants poached last year.

The Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism today said that 80 rhinos were poached last year, while elephant poaching has significantly decreased over the last eight years, dropping from 101 in 2015 to four in 2022, however, the same cannot be said for rhino poaching, which remains a concern with over 80 cases reported in the last year.

Monday, 30 January 2023
2023. Namibia rhino poaching surged 93% in 2022.

The number of endangered rhinos poached in Namibia reached an all-time high last year after 87 animals were killed compared to 45 in 2021, official government data showed on Monday. The ministry of environment, forestry and tourism spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said poachers killed 61 black and 26 white rhinos mainly in Namibia's largest park, Etosha, where 46 rhinos were found dead.

Monday, 30 January 2023
Nyaungwa N 2023. Namibia rhino poaching surges 93%, mainly in Etosha National Park.

The number of endangered rhinos poached in Namibia reached a record high in 2022 after 87 animals were killed compared to 45 in 2021, official government data showed on Monday. Africa's rhino population has been decimated over the decades to feed demand for rhino horn, which, despite being made of the same stuff as rhino hair and fingernails, is prized in East Asia as jewellery and fake medicine. The horns are worth tens of thousands of dollars in illegal Asian markets. The ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said poachers…

Monday, 30 January 2023
Chebet C 2023. Poaching, trafficking cases drop as use of dogs in conservation picks up.

Data from the Kenya Wildlife Service indicates that between 2014 and 2022, dogs led to the documentation of 102 incidents of wildlife trafficking. About 114 people linked to these incidents were arrested and prosecuted during the period. "The dogs are key in deterring these crimes. These cases have gone down because traffickers are now aware of the strict security deployed in our borders, airports, and even ports.

Sunday, 29 January 2023
Dlamini N 2023. 36 armed poachers caught in Zimbabwe's parks in 2022.

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) arrested 36 armed poachers inside the country's national parks last year as the number of endangered rhinos killed for their horns rose sharply. Zimbabwe records a high number of poaching cases every year with animals such as elephants and rhinos targeted for their horns, which are in demand in Asian countries. Some of the poachers are said to be from neighbouring countries such as Zambia.

Friday, 27 January 2023
Mabuza E 2023. Third time unlucky for poacher as he is sentenced to 32 years in jail.

The Skukuza regional court on Thursday convicted and sentenced a man who had been arrested in the Kruger National Park on three separate occasions to an effective 32 years' imprisonment for poaching-related offences. Forster Lubisi, 43, was convicted of three counts of trespassing, two counts of possession of a prohibited firearm with a serial number obliterated, possession of ammunition, possession of a dangerous weapon, killing of a rhino and possession of an unlicensed firearm. He pleaded guilty to the crimes.

Wednesday, 25 January 2023
2023. Task force established to combat wildlife trafficking.

The US Treasury Department and South Africa's National Treasury on Wednesday agreed to form a task force to combat illicit finance linked to the illegal wildlife trade, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said. Speaking at the Dinokeng Game Reserve outside Pretoria, Yellen told South African officials that the new task force aims to boost information sharing between the two country's financial intelligence units and to strengthen controls to combat money laundering and terrorist financing.

Tuesday, 24 January 2023
Smit E 2023. Poacher killed during skirmish with anti-poaching Unit.

A rhino poacher was killed while another was injured during a shootout between an antipoaching unit and three rhino poachers on Saturday on a private farm about 120 km east of Windhoek. The injured poacher was arrested, and the third accomplice, who initially fled the scene, was arrested on Monday morning. Owner of Namibia Wildlife Protection, Salmon Vermaak, whose anti-poaching unit (APU) is stationed on the farm, said the team leader informed him about 11:30 on Saturday that they had spotted a poacher tracking a rhino cow and her calf.

Tuesday, 24 January 2023
Smit E 2023. Stroper sterf in skermutseling.

'n Vermeende renosterstroper is dood en nog een gewond tydens 'n skietery Saterdag tussen 'n teenstropingseenheid en drie vermeende stropers op 'n plaas sowat 120 km oos van Windhoek. Die beseerde stroper is in hegtenis geneem en die derde verdagte wat aanvanklik op die vlug geslaan het, is gisteroggend in hegtenis geneem. Die eienaar van Namibia Wildlife Protection, Salmon Vermaak, wie se teenstropingseenheid op die plaas gestasioneer is, sê die spanleier het hom omstreeks 11:30 Saterdag laat weet ’n vermeende stroper is opgemerk waar hy 'n renosterkoei en haar kalf volg.

Tuesday, 24 January 2023
Reiter C 2023. Nashornwilderei geht weiter.

Bei einem Schusswechsel zwischen einer Anti-Wilderer-Einheit und drei Nashorn-Wilderern wurde am Samstag auf einer privaten Farm etwa 120 km östlich von Windhoek ein Nashorn-Wilderer getötet und ein weiterer verletzt.

One rhino poacher was killed and another injured in an exchange of fire between an anti-poaching unit and three rhino poachers on a private farm about 120 km east of Windhoek on Saturday.

Tuesday, 24 January 2023
2023. First case of rhino poaching this year recorded - Suspected poacher gunned down.

The first case of rhino poaching this year was recorded in an incident where a suspected poacher was killed on Saturday, the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism spokesperson, Romeo Muyunda confirmed this week. It is alleged that three male suspects hunted a rhino at farm Okarakua, Windhoek district, in which one suspect was shot and killed by the anti-poaching members and another male suspect, aged 27 was arrested, while the third one is still at large, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration, Safety and Security’s weekend serious crime report stated.

Tuesday, 24 January 2023
Muyamba J 2023. Cops fatally shoot rhino poaching suspect.

A suspect in a poaching case was gunned down by police officers on Saturday after three men allegedly hunted down a rhinoceros at farm Okarakua in the Windhoek district. One man, aged 27, was arrested, while a third suspect is still at large. Subsequently, a murder case was opened against the anti-poaching unit officers.

Tuesday, 24 January 2023
Mokhoali V 2023. Sanparks hopes hefty sentence handed to KNP rhino poachers deters criminals.

Johannesburg - South African National Parks (SANParks) welcomed the hefty sentence handed to two Mozambican nationals convicted for rhino poaching by the Skukuza Regional Court. Lucky Shihlangu and Sergio Mathebula were found guilty and sentenced to 18 years imprisonment on Monday. The two were arrested in the Malelane section of the Kruger National Park in September after they were found in possession of a hunting rifle, an axe, and two rhino horns.

Monday, 23 January 2023
2023. Chinese rhino horn smuggler escapes from Namibian prison.

A man died in a shootout with officers from the Namibian Police Force (NamPol) Wildlife Protection Unit after allegedly being caught in a rhino poaching incident at farm Okarakua in the Windhoek district on Saturday. A crime report issued yesterday by NamPol said the deceased, whose age is unknown, was one of three suspects who were allegedly attempting to kill a rhino cow and its calf around 17h40. Another suspect aged 27 was apprehended and seriously injured in the process, while the third suspect fled the scene. He was however arrested yesterday, it said.

Monday, 23 January 2023
2023. Poachers from Mozambique handed 22 year jail sentences.

Court, to two Mozambican nationals convicted for rhino poaching in the Kruger National Park (KNP), after they had killed a rhino and were found in possession of its fresh horns four months ago. Lucky Shihlangu (33) and Sergio Mathebula (32) were found guilty, and sentenced to a total of 22 years but will serve 18 years effectively. They faced six charges related to the case and were found guilty on all six charges.

Saturday, 21 January 2023
2023. Chinese national found guilty of illegally dealing in rhino horns.

Shiuhau Chen, a Chinese national, was found guilty on three counts of illegally dealing in rhino horns and contravening the Immigration Act in the Kempton Park Regional Court on Friday January 20.

Thursday, 19 January 2023
Chingarande D 2023. Chinese national, 3 accomplices in court over rhino horns.

A Chinese national Wang Yang and his three local accomplices including a police officer stationed in Harare appeared in court on Wednesday charged with illegal possession of rhino horns worth US$600 000.

Wednesday, 18 January 2023
Marriah-Maharaj J 2023. Mozambique nationals living illegally in SA, jailed for rhino poaching.

The South African National Parks has welcomed the lengthy jail terms handed down to three Mozambican nationals convicted of rhino poaching.

Tuesday, 17 January 2023
Denker H 2023. Countering poaching and trafficking of illegal wildlife products to support biodiversity protection through Operation Blue Rhino.

Operation Blue Rhino was initiated in 2018 to counter the surge in high-value wildlife crime in Namibia. The formal cooperation between government ministries is enabled through external funding support. Blue Rhino is facilitated through active collaboration amongst numerous partner organisations. Effective conservation systems that enable healthy wildlife populations form the foundation of biodiversity protection in Namibia. Anti-poaching initiatives guard against criminal impacts on vulnerable wildlife.

Monday, 16 January 2023
Stoddard E 2023. Private and communal lands conserve half of Africa's rhinos, and call for 'adaptive policies'.

Private and communal lands now conserve at least 50% of Africa's rhinos, according to a newly published paper in journal 'Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment', highlighting the need for 'adaptive policies' to build on this success. These trends have policy implications as debates rage about rhino-horn trade and trophy hunting.

Friday, 13 January 2023
Smit E 2023. 77 rhinos and 4 elephants poached in 2022.

Last year ended with one of the highest rhino poaching figures recorded in almost a decade. A total of 77 rhinos were poached in 2022 compared to 2021 when 45 rhinos were killed for their horns. Last year's figure is the third highest recorded since 2013, only surpassed by the 97 rhinos poached in 2015 and 84 killed by poachers in 2018.

Friday, 13 January 2023
Smit E 2023. Sorge über Nashorn-Wilderei.

Zahlen auf dritthöchstem Stand - Weniger Elefanten getötet. Auf der einen Seite sind die Zahlen erschreckend, auf der anderen machen sie Mut. Während bei der Nashorn-Wilderei die Summe der getöteten Tiere den dritthöchsten Stand seit 2013 erreicht hat, ist die Summe der zum Opfer gefallenen Elefanten seit 2016 jedes Jahr um die Hälfte gesunken.

Friday, 13 January 2023
Smit E 2023. 77 renosters, 4 olifante in 2022 gestroop.

Verlede jaar het geëindig met een van die hoogste renosterstroperysyfers in byna 'n dekade. Altesaam 77 renosters is verlede jaar gestroop - 32 meer as in 2021. Volgens die jongste statistieke wat deur die ministerie van die omgewing, bosbou en toerisme bekend gemaak is, is verlede jaar se syfers die derde hoogste sedert 2013. Die twee hoogste syfers is in 2015 en 2018 aangeteken met onderskeidelik 97 en 84 renosters wat in daardie jare gestroop is.

Wednesday, 25 November 2020
Ngema T 2020. Poachers evade KZN park's high-tech security and kill four rhinos for their horns.

The artificial intelligence (AI) cameras installed in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park failed to detect poachers after four dehorned rhinos were found last week. The carcasses were found on different days and appeared to have been killed a few days earlier.

Tuesday, 24 November 2020
2020. South Africa - Kruger rhino dehorned to keep poachers at bay.

As part of its many anti-poaching efforts, the Kruger National Park (KNP) dehorns some of its rhinos to make them a less attractive trophy for poachers.

Sunday, 22 November 2020
Phong H 2020. Man gets 6 years for smuggling rhino horns from Mozambique.

A HCMC court Friday sentenced a man to six years in jail for illegally transporting rhino horns weighing over six kilograms from Mozambique.

Tuesday, 17 November 2020
Amakali M 2020. Preacher takes bail fight to High Court.

Self-proclaimed prophet Jackson Babi has approached the High Court to appeal against a decision by the Windhoek Magistrate's Court to deny him bail. The flamboyant Babi claims magistrate Linus Samunzala misdirected himself in law and fact when he denied him bail. In September, the lower court refused to release Babi on bail, citing he failed to give convincing evidence to be released pending his trial. The court also ruled there was a likelihood Babi would interfere with the investigations.

Sunday, 15 November 2020
2020. Uganda's rhino population grows after years of extinction.

The rhino population at Uganda's Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary has been growing steadily, from nearly extinction in the 1970s to 32 at present, due to increased security and protection.

Friday, 13 November 2020
Nakale A 2020. K9 unit helps sniff out poachers.

Etosha - Although poaching of endangered species such as rhino and elephant have been reported to be minimal in the Etosha National Park, environment minister Pohamba Shifeta has called on law enforcement officials to do ballistic testing among communities adjacent to the park. Shifeta made the call Wednesday when he was briefed on the security situation cluster on antipoaching operation 'Yes Ongava' phase 18 in the Etosha National Park.

Friday, 13 November 2020
Leuschner E 2020. Beritten gegen die Wilderei.

Das Ministerium für Umwelt, Forstwirtschaft und Tourismus greift hart und konsequent gegen die Wilderei durch. Im Etoscha-Nationalpark wurde vor einiger Zeit eine spezialisierte Hundeeinheit stationiert, nun soll noch eine berittene Einheit dazukommen. "Der Etoscha-Nationalpark ist Namibias Aushängeschild. Touristen reisen in den Park und wollen die Artenvielfalt bewundern und beobachten - und genau das müssen wir schützen", stellte Umweltminister Pohamba Shifeta am Mittwoch bei Okaukuejo klar.

Friday, 13 November 2020
2020. Mozambique: Vietnamese arrested with rhino horns, lions' teeth and claws.

A Vietnamese woman was arrested at Maputo International Airport on Monday, found in possession of ve pieces of rhino horn and 162 assorted lions' teeth and claws. It can be inferred that three rhinos and 12 lions, both species protected by law, were slaughtered in the amassing of the haul.

Thursday, 12 November 2020
Atieno W 2020. Kenya: Rhino numbers go up as efforts to fight poaching pay off.

Kenya's black rhino population has doubled from less than 400 in 1985 to 794 by the end of 2019. Kenya is home to the last remaining two Northern White Rhinos in the world. "But, the Northern White Rhinos are endangered. There are only two existing in the world that are only found at the Ol Pejeta conservancy. We are making sure the white rhinos are saved and we produce more. We must protect these animals," said Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala during a webinar commemorating World Rhino Day last month.

Monday, 9 November 2020
Menges W 2020. Preacher denies bribery charge.

An evangelical preacher who has been in jail since May after being arrested over the possession of rhino horns and the poaching of a rhino in the Gobabis district on Friday denied guilt on a charge of bribery in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court.

Thursday, 5 November 2020
Denker H 2020. Conservation in a crisis.

Namibian conservation efforts have faced a number of major crises over the past half century.

Wednesday, 4 November 2020
Pieterse C 2020. Alleged rhino poachers granted bail.

The three Kruger National Park employees who were arrested for possession of rhino horns were granted bail in the Bushbuckridge Magistrate's Court last Thursday.

Tuesday, 3 November 2020
2020. Independence anniversary note grows unexpected windfall for rhino conservation.

The Thirty Namibia Dollar banknote that was issued by the Bank of Namibia during the lockdown to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Independence, has proven so popular with collectors that a recent auction of only a few notes garnered proceeds of N$480,000.

Tuesday, 3 November 2020
2020. Knapp eine halbe Million für den Artenschutz.

Die Bank of Namibia (BoN) hat gestern dem Save the Rhino Trust (SRT) eine Spende in Höhe von 480000 N$ übergeben. "Das Nashorn ist eins der schönsten prähistorischen Tiere auf der Erde, jedoch ist es auf dem Weg der Ausrottung aufgrund des unverantwortlichen Verhaltens von Menschen" so der stellvertretende BoN-Gouverneur, Ebson Uanguta (r).

Tuesday, 3 November 2020
2020. Support for SRT.

The Bank of Namibia (BoN) joined the fight to preserve Namibian rhinos by supporting the Save the Rhino Trust (SRT) Namibia through a donation of N$480 000.

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