Search results

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 - 48 of 48
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
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.

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.

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.

Attachment Size
AFR_2022_08_Illegal wildlife trade_DW.pdf 530.64 KB
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.

Monday, 28 February 2022
Muonwa J 2022. Poachers kill endangered white rhino.

A carcass of a white rhinoceros shot dead by poachers has been discovered in Bikita, Masvingo province, as wildlife poaching escalates in the country. The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) national spokesperson, assistant commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the discovery of the endangered animal's carcass made last Sunday.

Saturday, 26 February 2022
2022. Mozambican rhino poachers in Kruger National Park hit with hefty jail terms.

Two poachers caught with a high-powered rifle and poaching equipment close to the carcasses of two rhinos have each been sentenced to 23 years in jail. The Mozambicans were arrested in the Satara section of the Kruger National Park in May 2019 by rangers.

Friday, 25 February 2022
McCain N 2022. Poachers handed effective 19-year sentence for killing two rhinos.

Two rhino poachers have been sentenced to an effective 19 years' imprisonment for a 2019 poaching incident in the Kruger National Park. The Regional Court in Skukuza in Mpumalanga sentenced Micheal Chauke, 57, and Americo Mathonsi, 59, on Thursday. The men were found to have killed two rhinos on 22 May 2019, said police spokesperson Colonel Donald Mdhluli.

Thursday, 24 February 2022
2022. Police tail poaching syndicates.

Poaching syndicates have killed at least two rhinoceros this month and are suspected of moving around the country targeting the animals and cutting off their horns. The rhino is targeted for its horn in the underground, illegal wildlife markets, particularly in Asia, where dubious cultural beliefs drive demand. In the latest killing, police in Bikita discovered on Sunday a carcass of a white rhino buried in a pit in a bushy area with some body parts missing

Thursday, 24 February 2022
Calitz L 2022. Alleged rhino horn possession case goes to Nelspruit Regional Court in June.

Mpumalanga's AB Steyn and Limpopo's Dawie Groenewald appeared in the Nelspruit Magistrate's Court on February 23 and 24. The pair's previous appearance was on December 10 last year when the case was postponed for the fourth time. Some issues were raised by each of their legal representatives yesterday including that the state was dragging its feet in the case, that the state should be held responsible for the teams' travel costs because of the delays, and that documents were not presented in the way they were supposed to be.

Thursday, 17 February 2022
Masilela B 2022. Woman arrested in Bedfordview with 29 rhino horns worth R6m.

Pretoria - A 48-year-old woman was arrested on Thursday in Bedfordview, Johannesburg, after she was found in possession of 29 rhino horns with an estimated street value of R6 million.

Tuesday, 15 February 2022
Siamilandu O 2022. Zimbabwe join forces with other southern Africa countries in combating wildlife crime.

Zimbabwe has partnered four other states in the Kavango Zambezi (KAZA) Transfrontier Conservation Area (TFCA) in an agreement which will see them joining forces to combat wildlife crime. The four states that will work with Zimbabwe to defend their borders against wildlife threats are Angola, Botswana, Namibia and Zambia.

Thursday, 10 February 2022
Jemwa S 2022. Poachers kill black rhino in Matobo.

A black rhino carcass was recently discovered in Makotama Resettlements, Matobo with a bullet in its forehead, in a suspected case of poaching. The carcass, which was discovered on 7 February, was scanned with a GPX 5000 metal detector leading to the recovery of two wildlife sensors and a bullet head on the forehead.

Thursday, 10 February 2022
2022. Manhunt for rhino poacher.

Police have launched a manhunt for a suspected poacher after a rhino carcass was discovered with a bullet in its forehead in Matobo, Matabeleland South province, on Monday. In a statement on Wednesday, police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said investigations are underway. "The ZRP is investigating a case of poaching of protected animals, where a Black Rhino carcass with horns missing was found at Makotama Resettlements, Matobo, on February 7, 2022".

Wednesday, 9 February 2022
Singh O 2022. Former KZN cop gets 10 years for rhino poaching.

A former KwaZulu-Natal cop has been convicted and sentenced to 10 years' imprisonment for a 2018 incident in which he was found in possession of an unlicensed firearm and rhino horns.

Tuesday, 8 February 2022
Nyamukondiwa F 2022. A sad day for rhino conservation in Zim.

The courts never cease to disappoint. Two years ago, the Supreme Court delivered a retrogressive judgment on pangolin conservation. A few days ago, the High Court delivered a bombshell on a rhino-related case. The court acquitted a man who was found in possession of four rhino horns in Harare.

Tuesday, 8 February 2022
Masilela B 2022. WWF responds to South African rhino poaching figures.

Pretoria - The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) said transparency and regular communication about the status of rhino and rhino poaching is vital to track the impact of efforts made to conserve rhinos and reduce the impacts of the illegal wildlife trade. WWF was responding to the release of the rhino poaching numbers for 2021 by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) on Tuesday. The DFFE said as many as 451 rhino were poached in South Africa last year - 327 within government reserves and 124 on private property.

Tuesday, 8 February 2022
2022. 451 rhinos were poached in 2021 says the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.

Durban - The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) Minister Barbara Creecy has revealed that a total of 451 rhinos were poached in South Africa last year. Creecy said 327 rhinos were poached within government reserves and 124 were poached on private property.

Friday, 4 February 2022
2022. Zimbabwe records progress against wildlife crimes.

There has been a great improvement in the handling of wildlife crimes in the country's courts of law following an accelerated mentorship drive for prosecutors and magistrates on the subject, a wildlife rights proponent has said.

Wednesday, 2 February 2022
Smith J-M 2022. Skoolhoof en vrou met twee renosterhorings gevang.

Nadat hy sewe maande agter tralies deurgebring het omdat hy met onwettige renosterhorings in sy besit betrap is, is 'n skoolhoof van die Zambezistreek vry op borgtog ná ’n suksesvolle appèlaansoek by die hoërhof in Windhoek.

After spending seven months behind bars for being caught with illegal rhino horns in his possession, a Zambezi school principal is released on bail following a successful appeal to the Windhoek High Court.

Wednesday, 2 February 2022
Head T 2022. Gotcha! Smuggler caught with eleven rhino horns at OR Tambo.

Swift justice has been meted out for this unfortunate smuggler on Wednesday, after he was promptly arrested at OR Tambo for being in possession of no more than eleven separate rhino horn packages.

Wednesday, 2 February 2022
2022. Schulleiter gegen Kaution frei.

Ein Schuldirektor aus der Sambesi-Region ist auf Kaution frei, nachdem er sieben Monate wegen illegalen Besitzes von Nasenhorn hinter Gittern verbracht hatte.

A school principal from the Zambezi region is out on bail after spending seven months behind bars for illegal possession of rhino horn.

Tuesday, 1 February 2022
Munyoro F 2022. Two acquitted after being nabbed with rhino horns pieces.

A South African immigrant and a local man found in possession of four pieces of rhino horns worth US$240 000 without a licence have been acquitted after the High Court found that the prosecution failed to prove its case against them.

NOT FOUND WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR? AMEND YOUR SEARCH...