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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 - 45 of 45
Tuesday, 30 August 2022
Bega S 2022. Direct jail sentences a win in fight against South Africa wildlife trade.

A six-year jail sentence for a man who smuggled 1 100 Emperor scorpions, 42 Bell's hingeback tortoises and a water lizard. Seventeen years imprisonment for elephant poachers in the Kruger National Park. A 10-year jail sentence for a pangolin poacher. 

Monday, 29 August 2022
Muyamba J 2022. Three nabbed for elephant tusks.

Three Namibian male suspects aged 26, 30 and 33 are due in court after they were arrested on Saturday night in Kavango West for illegal possession of a live pangolin and two elephant tusks.

Monday, 29 August 2022
Smit E 2022. Rhino poaching in Africa drops during Covid-19.

Rhino poaching rates in Africa declined to 2.3% in 2021 from 3.9% of the population in 2018. This is according to a new report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the global non-governmental organisation Traffic. The report was compiled for the 19th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which will be held in Panama in November.

Monday, 29 August 2022
Reiter C 2022. Rückgang der Nashornwilderei in Afrika.

Die Nashornwilderei in Afrika ist von 3,9 % in 2018 auf 2,3 % in 2021 zurückgegangen. Dies geht aus einem neuen Bericht der IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) und der NGO Traffic hervor. Der Bericht ist für die 19. Tagung der Konferenz der Vertragsparteien des Übereinkommens über den internationalen Handel mit gefährdeten Arten freilebender Tiere und Pflanzen (CITES) bestimmt, die im November dieses Jahres in Panama stattfinden wird. Dem Bericht zufolge wurden zwischen 2018 und 2021 mindestens 2 707 Nashörner in Afrika gewildert.

Sunday, 28 August 2022
2022. Police thwart rhino poachers. Kormorant

Members of the Hartbeespoort Crime Prevention and K9 Unit and Brits police received information regarding a rhino poaching syndicate that had moved into the Brits area. Information was immediately followed up and police discovered the six men's whereabouts in Majakaneng. Police also established that the men were targeting a game lodge with rhinos near Brits where the alleged poachers had an inside informant.

Saturday, 27 August 2022
McCain N, Lekoma N 2022. Rhino conservation groups call for cross-border enforcement as poaching numbers rise after Covid-19.

Rhino conservation groups say a collaborative, cross-border approach is needed to stop poaching. South Africa lost 259 rhinos to poaching in the first half of the year. Private game reserves are increasingly targeted by poachers, forcing them to increase security measures.

Wednesday, 24 August 2022
2022. Rhino poaching on the rise as SA opens.

Cape Town - Threats to African rhinos from transnational crime networks remain high, despite the reported pause during the Covid-19 lockdown periods. This is according to the IUCN African Rhino Specialist Group's (AfRSG) updated information on rhino populations. At a continental scale, the threat of illegal wildlife trade in rhino horn to African rhinos has declined to 2.3% poaching rate of the total population from the peak in 2015, at 5.3%.

Monday, 22 August 2022
2022. Poaching, horn trade declining but rhinos still threatened.

The rhino's survival remains in grave danger despite Covid-19-related drops in poaching and the illegal trade in their horns, a conservation body said on Monday. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) said that poaching was still "an acute threat" to the survival of the species. A total of 2 707 rhinos were poached in Africa between 2018 and 2021, according to the IUCN, the vast majority of which were killed in South Africa, mainly in the Kruger National Park. South Africa is home to nearly 80 percent of the world's rhinos.

Sunday, 21 August 2022
Motlhoka T 2022. Rhino killed at Khama Sanctuary?.

A white rhino has reportedly been killed and dehorned by poachers inside the protected Khama Rhino Sanctuary (KRS) in Botswana. Two separate conservationists have reported about the killing. One conservationist told this publication that their sources inside the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) confirmed the incident. "Two weeks ago a white rhino was poached at Khama Rhino Sanctuary but they are denying it happened at their property but sources inside DWNP confirm it was indeed at KRS."

Friday, 19 August 2022
Brooks C 2022. US Judge sentences Liberian wildlife tTrafficker to more than 5 years in jail.

New York - A U.S. judge sentenced a Liberian man to 63 months in prison for conspiring to traffic millions of dollars’ worth of horns and ivory from endangered rhinoceros and elephants, federal prosecutors said Thursday.

Thursday, 18 August 2022
Smit E 2022. Poaching gang targets white rhinos.

Last week, five white rhinos were poached on private farms, bringing 2022's total to 39, of which 15 were white rhinos.

Wednesday, 17 August 2022
Majavu N 2022. Rhino poaching case of former park ranger and state vet postponed again.

The trial of a former Kruger National Park ranger and a state veterinary technician accused of rhino poaching has been postponed to November 22 because the court dates of the accused's legal representative clash with another trial. The ranger, Rodney Landela, and state vet Kenneth Motshotso appeared in court on Tuesday for the trial, which was meant to run until Friday. Landela and Motshotso were arrested on July 27 2016 for the possession of two rhino horns, a rifle and ammunition.

Wednesday, 17 August 2022
Reiter C 2022. Professionelle Nashornwilderer vermutet.

in der vergangenen Woche fünf Breitmaulnashörner auf privaten Farmen durch Wilderer verloren, womit sich die Gesamtzahl der in diesem Jahr gewilderten Nashörner auf 39 erhöht hat, von denen 15 Breitmaulnashörner waren.

Namibia has lost five white rhinos on private farms to poachers in the past week, bringing the total number of rhinos poached this year to 39, of which 15 were white rhinos.

Tuesday, 16 August 2022
Majavu N 2022. Former Kruger ranger and state vet to face the music for rhino poaching six years later.

Six years after two rhinos were killed and poached, a former Kruger National Park ranger and state veterinarian technician could soon hear their fate. Their trial dates have been set for Tuesday until Friday. Former ranger Rodney Landela and former state vet Kenneth Motshotso were arrested on July 27 2016. The pair were arrested for the possession of two rhino horns, a firearm and ammunition.

Tuesday, 16 August 2022
Semcer CE 2022. Rhino poaching and assassination highlights need for private wildlife conservancies to move beyond tourism.

South Africa has experienced an increase in rhino poaching following a lull during the Covid-19 lockdown. Earlier this month, the country's Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment reported that 259 rhinos had been poached during the first half of 2022. This is a four percent increase in the number of animals killed during the same period last year. Rhino poaching incidents appear to be moving away from South Africa's national parks and into private wildlife conservancies where roughly 40 percent of the country's rhinos are found.

Friday, 12 August 2022
2022. Illegal wildlife trade.

Despite international agreements to combat illegal wildlife trade, poaching and trafficking is booming. Governments are meeting Wednesday in Botswana to evaluate current measures. As illegal wildlife activity reaches alarmingly high levels worldwide, governments are meeting in Kasane, Botswana, Wednesday to discuss the success of current measures against poaching and wildlife trafficking.

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Wednesday, 10 August 2022
Smit E 2022. Vier renosters, twee dae.

In die minder as agt maande van 2022 wat al verby is, is 36 renosters reeds oraloor die land gestroop. In die nuutste voorvalle is die karkas van ’n witrenoster gister op 'n private plaas in die Okahandja-distrik ontdek. Maandag is karkasse van nog twee gestroopte witrenosters op 'n private plaas in die Outjo-distrik aangemeld. Net verlede week het die ministerie gesê 33 renosters is vanjaar gestroop, waarvan 24 swartrenosters en nege witrenosters was.

Wednesday, 10 August 2022
Reiter C 2022. Drei weitere Nashörner gewildert.

Ein Breitmaulnashornkadaver wurde gestern auf einer privaten Farm in der Okahandja-Gegend entdeckt. Zwei weitere Kadaver der gleichen Art wurden wiederrum am Montag auf einer privaten Farm in der Outjo Gegend entdeckt. Die Tiere sollen von Wilderern getötet worden sein.

 A white rhino carcass was discovered yesterday on a private farm in the Okahandja area. Two more carcasses of the same species were discovered Monday at a private farm in the Outjo area. The animals are said to have been killed by poachers.

Wednesday, 10 August 2022
Smit E 2022. 36 rhinos poached.

Eight months into the year and already 36 rhinos have been poached across the country. In the latest incidents, the carcass of a white rhino was discovered yesterday on a private farm in the Okahandja district. On Monday, the carcasses of two more white rhinos - killed by poachers - were discovered on a private farm in the Outjo district. Just last week, the ministry said 33 rhinos had been poached this year, of which 24 were black rhinos and nine were white rhinos.

Sunday, 7 August 2022
2022. Second fugitive on US most wanted list arrested In Meru.

Ahmed is wanted in the U.S after he was charged in an indictment alongside Moazu Kromah, aka "Ayoub," Amara Cherif, aka "Bamba Issiaka," and Mansur Mohamed Surur, aka "Mansour," for participating in a conspiracy to traffic in Rhinoceros horns and Elephant ivory, both protected wildlife species, valued at more than 7 million dollars. This involved the illegal poaching of more than 35 rhinoceros and more than 100 elephants.

Saturday, 6 August 2022
Gumede M 2022. KZN's rhino population is being decimated by highly organised poachers.

Rhino poachers are heartless and kill every rhino they see - young or old, with of without a horn - just to get rid of them from the reserve and to "try and make their job easier", should they come back. This is according to Ezemvelo Wildlife spokesperson Musa Mntambo. This week, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Barbara Creecy said that KwaZulu-Natal recorded a loss of 133 rhinos in the first half of the year - which is more than triple the 33 rhino killed in the first six months of 2021.

Friday, 5 August 2022
Smit E 2022. Renosterstropers stel hul visier op plase in.

Volgens die woordvoerder van die ministerie van die omgewing, bosbou en toerisme, mnr. Romeo Muyunda, het vanjaar se stroperyvoorvalle 15 gestroopte renosters in die Etosha Nasionale Park, nege renosters op bewaringsplase en nog nege op private plase ingesluit.

According to the spokesperson of the Ministry of the Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Mr. Romeo Muyunda, this year's poaching incidents included 15 poached rhinos in the Etosha National Park, nine rhinos on conservation farms and another nine on private farms.

Friday, 5 August 2022
Reiter C 2022. Umweltministerium - 33 Nashörner und zwei Elefanten in diesem Jahr gewildert.

In diesem Jahr wurden laut des Umweltministeriums (MEFT) 33 Nashörner gewildert, davon sind 24 Spitzmaulnashörner und neun Breitmaulnashörner. "Es wurden neun Nashörner auf Farmen unter Treuhandverwaltung gewildert, weitere neun auf privaten Farmen und 15 im Etoscha-Nationalpark", so die Erklärung des Umweltministeriums. Namibia verzeichnete demnach 44 gewilderte Nashörner in 2021, 42 in 2020, 57 in 2019, 83 in 2018 und 55 in 2017.

Friday, 5 August 2022
2022. Ending rhino poaching in Namibia calls for concerted efforts: spokesperson.

Rhino poachers in Namibia have shifted focus from national parks to custodianship and private farms with both black and white rhinos being the target, an official said. Namibia's Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism (MEFT) has recorded 33 rhinos poached since the start of the year, of which 24 were black rhinos and nine were white rhinos, said MEFT spokesperson Romeo Muyunda in a statement.

Friday, 5 August 2022
2022. Rhino poachers shift focus from national parks to custodianship and private farms.

Rhino poachers have shifted focus from national parks to custodianship and private farms with both black and white rhinos being the target, Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism spokesperson (MEFT) Romeo Muyunda said this week. According to MEFT, 33 rhinos poached have been poached so far this year, of which 24 are black rhinos and nine are white rhinos.

Thursday, 4 August 2022
2022. Rhino poaching numbers increase from 2021.

A total of 82 rhinos have been poached in the Kruger National Park between January and June this year.

Wednesday, 3 August 2022
2022. Our Viewpoint - Rhino poaching.

Almost 260 rhino were poached for their hornsin South Africa in the firstsix months of this year.

Tuesday, 2 August 2022
2022. Rhino poaching update shows KwaZulu-Natal now target of choice.

Nationally South Africa lost 259 rhino in the first six months of this year - 10 more than in the corresponding period last year - with concern expressed about the amount of poaching in KwaZulu-Natal and private game reserves. Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Minister Barbara Creecy maintains the "trend" away from what has long been poacher target number one - the Kruger National Park - makes it "important for national government to shift its focus to supporting provincial authorities and private reserves in the war on rhino poaching".

Tuesday, 2 August 2022
2022. 259 rhinos poached in SA over the last 6 months.

A total of 259 rhinos were poached for their horn in South Africa, over the first six months of 2022.

Tuesday, 2 August 2022
Valoi E 2022. Notorious rhino kingpin Navara under arrest in Mozambique.

Authorities in Mozambique have arrested "Navara", aka Simon Ernesto Valoi, and an associate in connection with allegedly attempting to sell rhino horns in the country’s capital, Maputo. For many years Navara has had the reputation of being one of the most notorious rhino poaching syndicate leaders in Mozambique. He was arrested with an associate, Paulo Zukula, on July 26 2022 in possession of eight rhino horns.

Thursday, 25 November 2021
DiLonardo MJ 2021. How dogs are fighting rhino poaching.

In the war on poaching, some of the best defenders have four legs. Trained canines are used in some of South Africa's national parks to detect wildlife contraband like rhino horns, pangolin scales, and ivory at airports and roadblocks. Other dogs are trained to track and apprehend poachers in the field. According to Save the Rhino, 9,885 rhinos have been lost to poaching in the last decade. But Carl Thornton, founder and director of Pit-Track K9 Conservation and Anti-Poaching Unit, says the numbers are likely much higher.

Thursday, 25 November 2021
Hutchings M 2021. Almost 900kgs of South African rhino horns destined for Asian countries seized between 2014 and 2021.

The Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana has revealed that over the past 10 years, rhino horns weighing 865kg were seized during Sars Customs border operations between 2014 and 2021. Countries where rhino horns have been trafficked to include Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Hong Kong, China, Vietnam, Dubai, Turkey and Nigeria.

Sunday, 21 November 2021
2021. All hands on deck against rhino poaching.

In the past three years, gun battles between rhino poachers and the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Authority (ZimParks) rangers have killed about 20 people. Wildlife economists say a country like Zimbabwe, which has a large rhino population, needs to continue to remain alert as the endangered species to be under threat from poachers. According to America-based wildlife organisation, World Animal Foundation, the rhino horn is estimated at US$65 000 per kg, which is more than the value of gold or diamonds.

Friday, 19 November 2021
Motlhoka T 2021. Botswana struggles with rising cases of rhino poaching.

Poaching intensified over the past three years following the 2018 decision by the government to disarm the anti-poaching unit under the DWNP. The 100+ rhinos poached since the disarmament represents a 100+ percent increase in poaching incidents when compared to the previous three years when Botswana lost one rhino per annum in the preceding 2015, 2016, and 2017 when the unit had firearms. There were at least 12 rhinos poached in 2018, 29 rhinos in 2019, and over 50 poached by the end of 2020.

Thursday, 18 November 2021
Ngwenya T 2021. Two men nabbed with rhino horn in Gauteng testify that police solicited a R30K bribe to release them.

Police who arrested two men carrying a rhino horn on a highway near Witbank allegedly demanded a R30,000 bribe to release them.

Thursday, 18 November 2021
Muronzi C 2021. Can NFTs help save rhinos from poachers?.

A rhino conservationist has turned to the world of non-fungible tokens to help fund efforts to keep poachers at bay.

Thursday, 11 November 2021
Stoddard E 2021. This week we're listening to: A riveting and disturbing foray into South Africa's rhino-poaching crisis.
Tuesday, 9 November 2021
2021. Two foreign nationals arrested for trafficking ivory and rhinoceros horn as part of international operation with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

The 11-count indictment alleges that Lokua and Mujangi worked with a middleman to smuggle four packages into the United States. In August and September, 2020, the defendants sent three shipments containing a total of about 49 pounds of ivory by air freight to Seattle. In May 2021, they sent another package with approximately five pounds of rhinoceros horn. At the same time, the defendants conspired to conduct large transactions via ocean freight, offering the buyer more than two tons of elephant ivory, one ton of pangolin scales, and multiple intact rhinoceros horns. On Nov.

Monday, 8 November 2021
McCain N 2021. Poachers handed heavy sentences after being found with rhino horns.

Two rhino poachers have been sentenced to an effective 16 years' imprisonment each. The men were arrested in February when rangers from the Lower Sabie and Crocodile Bridge sections of the Kruger National Park reacted after three armed suspects were seen entering the park by crossing the border between South Africa and Mozambique, said police spokesperson Brigadier Selvy Mohlala.

Monday, 8 November 2021
Carter M 2021. Seattle grand jury indicts two Congolese men for allegedly smuggling poached ivory, rare white rhino horns.

Two foreign nationals from the Democratic Republic of Congo were arrested outside Seattle last week and indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of conspiracy and money laundering for allegedly smuggling elephant ivory and rhino horns into the United States.

Monday, 8 November 2021
Holland H Congo seizes $3.5 mln of ivory, rhino horn and pangolin scales.

Authorities in Democratic Republic of Congo have seized $3.5 million worth of ivory, rhinoceros horn and pangolin scales in a joint operation with United States officials, the U.S. embassy in Kinshasa said on Monday. Two wildlife traffickers were also arrested in the United States on Nov. 4, following a more than two-year investigation between the two countries and global police agency Interpol.

Saturday, 6 November 2021
2021. Kenya is Africa's gate for illegal wildlife trade - Sentry.

Kenya remains a leading spot for laundering proceeds of illegal wildlife trafficking, logging, and fishing in Africa, a report on illicit financial flow by Sentry shows. Dubbed 'Kenya Illicit Finance Risk and Assessment', the report says the country acts as a transshipment site for East Africa. According to the report, Tanzania, Mozambique, Uganda, DRC, Zambia and South Sudan traffic their wildlife products via Kenya heading to Asian countries including China and Hong Kong via Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Singapore.

Friday, 5 November 2021
2021. Airlink joins fight against wildlife trade.

Airlink, the privately owned Southern African regional airline, will implement a company-wide programme involving training, new processes and supply chain interventions to identify and combat illicit wildlife trade. The illegal wildlife trade is valued between USD $50 to 150 billion (approximately between ZAR730 billion - ZAR 2,19 trillion at current exchange rates) per year and is one of the five most lucrative global crimes. Illegal killing and trading of wild animals is a global crisis, with species being hunted to extinction for their horns, skins and teeth.

Thursday, 4 November 2021
Smit E 2021. 12 arrested for wildlife crimes.

Five men were arrested last week for conspiring to poach a rhino, while another was found guilty of illegal possession and dealing in python skins. He will have to cough up N$7 000 or spend 20 months behind bars. Meanwhile, three Namibians were arrested at Epukiro when they were found in possession of two live pangolins on 29 October. Tjovanga Kamburona, Tjarirove Kamburona and Nguvarua Tjombe were all charged for the illegal possession and dealing of controlled wildlife products.

Monday, 1 November 2021
Bunyan R 2021. The rhino with tears in his eyes: Heartbreaking images show a 4,500lb Southern White rhino 'weeping in pain' after poachers hacked off his horn and removed part of the bone in his skull in South African game reserve.

Heartbreaking images show a rhino with tears running down its face after its horn was hacked off by cruel poachers in South Africa. The 4,500lb male Southern White rhino was left with a gruesome open wound and also had parts of the bone in its skull removed when it was attacked and left for dead in a game reserve.

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