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Another rhino was sadly killed at a private game reserve in the Pongola area on Thursday evening. The rhino bull was found dead, but this time around, the horns were still intact. Police suspect that the poachers may have only wounded the animal and it ran away to die somewhere else. Rangers found the rhino on Friday morning and contacted the police. Last week was full moon, oddly enough known as 'Poacher’s Moon'. There is also a known link between rhino poaching and the full moon, which is that anti-poaching teams actively monitor on these nights.

The Ministry of Environment and Tourism has launched a community reward fund to encourage the reporting of poaching activities to help curb wildlife crimes in the Zambezi region. Namibia has lost over 631 rhinos to poaching over the last 10 years and just over 220 elephants, although the number of poached elephants has significantly declined in recent years. Saisai says compensation varies according to species, adding that if a community member provides a tip on a buffalo being poached, they would be paid N$1 000.

While Namibia and other southern African countries are struggling to protect their rhinos from poaching, scientists are looking for solutions to make the rhino financially unattractive to poachers. According to a new research report published in Science magazine on June 5, dehorning is currently the most effective solution to prevent poaching. The team of scientists led by Kuiper, Haussmann and Whitfield found that dehorning rhinos leads to a drastic reduction in poaching compared to other measures.

Seventy southern white rhinos have completed a journey of more than 3,400 kilometres (at least 2,112 miles) by truck and Boeing 747 from South Africa to Rwanda in what has been described as the largest translocation of its kind. Part of a rewilding initiative, the rhinos were transported in two groups of 35 - first by airliner then by road - from South Africa's Munywana Conservancy to the Akagera National Park in Rwanda, central Africa's largest protected wetland, the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) said on Tuesday.

South Africa's pervasive 'rhino war' rhetoric distracts us from addressing the root causes of poaching. We urgently need alternative conservation philosophies, practices and policies to tackle wildlife crime. In January 2025, conservationists were honoured to have you, Mr Dion George, Minister of the Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, at a two-week conservation management course in the Greater Kruger area.

By the 1950s, Nile crocodiles in Zimbabwe were nearly extinct. Commercial hunters had killed most of them for their valuable skins. The crocodiles were easy targets because they lived in predictable locations, hunters could spot them easily at night with spotlights, and each kill was worth a lot of money. Instead of banning all crocodile hunting, wildlife authorities did something unexpected: they allowed people to start commercial crocodile farms. Why did this work? Three reasons: Undercut the black market: Legal farms could supply skins, reducing demand for poached ones.

The Skukuza regional court on Thursday sentenced Philip Mfana Masuku to 14 years' direct imprisonment for poaching-related offences committed six years ago. Masuku, 62, from Bhekiswayo Trust in Kabokweni, was earlier convicted for trespassing, killing two rhinos, conspiracy to commit an offence and possession of a dangerous weapon.

We shouldn't have to dehorn rhinos to keep them safe. The ideal is to let rhinos live as they should - horns and all. That's the message from a Nelson Mandela University scientist who led a landmark seven-year study showing that while dehorning can significantly reduce poaching, it's not a long-term solution. To truly protect rhinos, he says, we must dismantle the criminal syndicates.

The report, produced under a Service Contract with the European Commission, provides an in-depth analysis of illegal wildlife trade trends based on seizures reported by EU Member States to Europe Trade in Wildlife Information eXchange (EU-TWIX) system. The illegal trade in wild species is a critical threat to biodiversity; valued at a staggering $23bn each year, it devastates ecosystems and fuels crime.

Private rhino owners are taking extraordinary steps to protect their animals following an increase in poaching incidents, including the brutal killing of a rhino cow in the Hardap region earlier this month.  The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) has confirmed that 15 rhinos and one elephant have been poached across the country so far this year.  In response to growing concerns, a private rhino owner has offered a N$160 000 reward for information leading to the arrest and successful prosecution of those behind the Hardap incident.

Rhinos were poached to near extinction in Zimbabwe. Now a private wildlife sanctuary is reintroducing them to places.

The future of the rhino is becoming increasingly bleak, despite efforts to combat poaching. According to the non-governmental organisation (NGO) Save the Rhino International, South Africa, which is home to around 80% of the world's rhinos, has lost almost 75% of its rhino population in less than ten years. These figures were revealed on 22 September 2022, World Rhino Day.

The number of rhinos being poached in Namibia, home to the world's second-biggest population of the animals, is surging with the government and environmental non-profits suspecting that international syndicates are shifting their focus from South Africa. In the 12 months to the end of August, 74 rhinos were killed illegally, compared with just 16 in the first eight months of 2021, according to government statistics.

Private game reserves are buckling under the costs of keeping rhinos safe from poachers. This as the trend shows poachers have set their sights on private reserves. More than 250 rhinos were poached in the first half of the year.

The dehorning of rhinos began in 1989, making Namibia the first country to use it as an anti-poaching method. There remains a lot of conjecture surrounding the possible implications of dehorning rhinos. While the benefits of such an exercise have long been proved, some sceptics believe it could have some effect on rhino behaviour and biology.

SARS is focussing on tax audit investigations aimed at suspect non-compliant taxpayers benefitting directly or indirectly from tax evasion and illicit financial flows stemming from wildlife crime. Resulting tax investigations have resulted in notable successes including legal recovery, civil proceedings and criminal charges against a criminal syndicate involved in wildlife trafficking including rhino poaching.

Director of Intelligence at the Wildlife Justice Commission Sarah Stoner is calling for wildlife crime to be recognised as transnational crime and not simply as a conservation issue. According to Stoner, "Our analysis found that rhino horn is most often smuggled with no concealment at all so around 1/3 of horns that were seized in the last 10 years indicate there was no attempt to hide the contraband in the shipment.

The International Rhino Foundation (IRF) has revealed that Africa's white rhino population, under pressure from poaching, continues to decline. This was according to the IRF's State of the Rhino report which is published every September. The report documents current population estimates and trends, where available, as well as key challenges and conservation developments for the five surviving rhino species in Africa and Asia.

Law enforcement agencies globally must address rhino horn trafficking as transnational organised crime, with an increased focus on the higher-level actors in the supply chain. This was the main message that emerged from a joint webinar hosted by World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) SA and the Wildlife Justice Commission to mark World Rhino Day on Thursday. Malaysian customs officials say they have seized a stash of rare animal parts worth $18 million thought to have come from Africa, including elephant tusks, rhino horns and pangolin scales.

Pretoria - A recent report by the Global Organised Crime Index ranked South Africa 19 out of 193 countries for criminality. According to the report, the year 2020 shaped organised crime in many different ways because of Covid-19, but while the global economy ground to a halt under lockdowns and travel restrictions, criminals were working out how to circumvent obstacles and exploit the situation. The report also indicated that rhino poaching had declined during the pandemic.

As the world celebrates Rhino Day on Thursday, anti-poaching organisation Saving the World has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to acknowledge allegations of bribery against suspended KwaZulu-Natal regional court president Eric Nzimande. World Rhino Day seeks to create awareness of and find new ways to stop poaching, and keep the endangered species from extinction.

Heute ist Weltnashorntag: Ein Tag, der einerseits an die Faszination und Schönheit der grauen Riesen erinnert - aber auch an ihre Gefährdung und Schutzbedürftigkeit angesichts zahlreicher Bedrohungen weltweit. In Afrika geht die Population der Nashörner laut Umweltstiftung WWF insgesamt jährlich um drei Prozent zurück. Es werden jedes Jahr hunderte Nashörner wegen ihres Horns getötet; in Südafrika sind die Tiere besonders gefährdet. Der internationale Handel mit Nashorn-Hörnern ist zwar verboten.

According to a report published on August 22 by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), from 2018 to 2021, 2 707 rhinos were poached across the African continent, 90% of them in South Africa.

Zimbabwe has started removing the horns of its entire rhino population to deter poaching. The de-horning process of more than 1,000 animals is being done by veterinarians from the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, according to its spokesman Tinashe Farawo. They will be cut off after the rhinos have been anesthetized, and typically grow back within a year.

The International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC) says it supports Namibia's proposal to the Convention on International Trade on Endangered Species (Cites) to transfer its population of white rhinoceros from Appendix I to Appendix II. This would be for the exclusive purpose of allowing international trade in live animals for in-situ conservation and trophy hunting.

The Gobabis Magistrates Court has declared self-styled prophet and preacher, Jackson Babi, unfit to possess a firearm for a period of four years and fined him N$370 000 or a jail term for 17 years. The court stated this during the sentencing hearing, when the prophet was sentenced on 12 counts of crimes related to rhino poaching.

The preacher and admitted rhinoceros poacher Jackson Babi is facing a prison term of at least 10 years, which would increase to 27 years if he does not pay fines also imposed on him, after pleading guilty on 11 criminal charges in the Gobabis Regional Court.

Self-proclaimed prophet Jackson Babi was sentenced on 12 counts related to rhino poaching in the Gobabis Magistrate's Court last Friday, and faces at least 10 years' direct imprisonment. In total, he has been found guilty and sentenced on 19 counts and must pay fines amounting to N$370 000 or face further jail time.

Poisons like cyanide can be a deadly weapon for poachers, allowing them to kill dozens of animals without needing access to firearms or the backing of criminal syndicates. Wildlife poisoning is on the rise across Africa, targeting elephants as well as pushing endangered vultures toward extinction. A new study says Zimbabwe, which a decade ago witnessed some of the deadliest mass poisonings of elephants, has developed a sound basis for curbing poisonings by tightening laws to criminalize intent to use poison to kill wildlife.

In einer Pressemitteilung des Umweltministeriums gab dieses bekannt, dass es die Urteilsverkündung des Magistratsgerichtshofes in Gobabis gutheißt. Der selbsternannte Prophet Jackson Babi, der in 2020 festgenommen wurde, nachdem die Polizei zwei Rhinozeros-Hörner in seiner Wohnung im Windhoeker Stadtteil kleine Kuppe beschlagnahmt und auch ein Jagdgewehr samt Munition dort konfisziert hatten, wurde in 12 Anklagepunkten der Wilddieberei für schuldig befunden. Zusammen wurde er auf 19 Anklagepunkten verurteilt, von denen er ein Minimum von bis zu zehn Jahren hinter Gittern…

Self-proclaimed prophet and founder of the House of Joy Ministries Jackson Babi was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on Friday for rhino poaching. On Friday, Gobabis magistrate Eden Iyambo sentenced Babi when he found him guilty on 19 charges related to illegally hunting protected animals. On two counts of hunting of specially protected game, which had an alternative count of conspiracy to hunt, the court sentenced the "prophet" to three years of direct imprisonment for each count. However, on top of the sentence, the court ordered Babi to pay a fine of N$100 000 for each count…

Die selfverklaarde profeet Jackson Babi is Vrydag in die Gobabis-landdroshof op 12 klagte skuldig bevind wat met renosterstropery verband hou. Babi staar ten minste tien jaar tronkstraf in die gesig. In totaal is hy skuldig bevind en gevonnis vir 19 misdade en moet hy boetes ter waarde van N$370 000 betaal. Sou hy nie die boetes betaal nie, sal verdere tronkstraf by sy vonnis gevoeg word.

It was a mistake. Ten tons of ivory and 190 kilograms of rhino horn were sold over a seven-year period, according to the indictment. It was actually much more than that. Much, much more. Moazu Kromah, a Liberian national, had pled guilty in March to three charges relating to wildlife trafficking in Africa. In his letter pleading for leniency submitted to the Southern District of New York, he thanked the court for the opportunity to "give some information about myself and the circumstances that led me to make the mistakes which bring me before you."

The Kruger National Park rhino population has again decreased from 2 809 at the end of 2020 to 2 458 rhinos at present.

Private rhino owners have begun dehorning their animals again to protect them against a recent surge in rhino poaching. The number of rhinos poached this year has increased to 48, surpassing last year's total of 44, and the 42 rhinos poached in total in 2020. Of the animals poached this year so far, 32 were black rhinos and 16 were white rhinos. Twelve black rhinos were poached on custodianship farms and 16 white rhinos were poached on private farms.

Strides made with hefty sentences and fines for criminals endangering game rangers and animals. When Jimmy Mashopane of Winterveld, north of Pretoria, was arrested for shooting, killing and mutilating nine white rhino in a Free State game reserve, taking 14 horns estimated at more than R500,000, veteran prosecutor Antoinette Ferreira threw the book at him. That one of the rhino was a month away from giving birth "only enhances one's sense of abomination", judge Phillip Loubser said.

The Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism (MEFT) last week on Friday received equipment and vehicles to assist in the fight against poaching and the illegal wildlife trade as the country continues to battle with a surge in cases. The donation from the U.S. government which included two Toyota Landcruiser and two Hyundai Game Viewer Trucks as well as anti-poaching equipment all valued at N$9 million Namibia dollars was handed over to the MEFT officials by a senior leader delegation from the U.S. Africa Command.

Private Nashornbesitzer gehen wieder dazu über, ihre Tiere zu enthornen, um sie vor dem jüngsten Anstieg der Nashornwilderei zu schützen. Jaco Muller, Besitzer einer Nashornfarm und Gründer der Organisation HoRn (Help our Rhino's Now), sagte gegenüber der Schwesterzeitung Namibian Sun, dass die letzten Wochen die schlimmsten in Bezug auf die Nashornwilderei waren, insbesondere auf privaten Farmen. Laut ihm wurden in den letzten sechs Wochen etwa 14 Breitmaulnashörner von Wilderern getötet. "Es ist sehr traurig für mich.

Private renostereienaars onthoring tans hul diere om hulle teen die onlangse toename in stroperyvoorvalle te beskerm. Altesaam 48 renosters is reeds vanjaar gestroop, wat reeds verlede jaar se syfer van 44 oortref, asook die 42 renosters in 2020. Uit dié 48 was 32 swart- en 16 witrenosters – waarvan 12 swartrenosters op bewaringsplase gestroop is en 16 witrenosters op private plase.

Namibia is experiencing a surge in poaching, with the number of poached rhinoceros rising to 48 this year, Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said Wednesday. In a statement, Muyunda said of the poached rhinoceros, 32 were black rhinoceros and 16 were white rhinoceros.

Namibia is experiencing a surge in poaching, with the number of poached rhinoceros rising to 48 this year, Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said Wednesday. In a statement, Muyunda said of the poached rhinoceros, 32 were black rhinoceros and 16 were white rhinoceros.

The 2022 poaching statistics show a loss of 210 rhino on state properties and 49 in privately owned parks. As indicated, hardest hit during this period is KwaZulu-Natal which recorded a loss of 133 rhino. This is more than triple the 33 rhino killed in the first six months of 2021.

About 20 rhinos have been poached at the Etosha National Park so far this year, with five carcasses discovered between June and August. This was announced in a statement yesterday by Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism spokesperson Romeo Muyunda. Muyunda said 12 black rhinos were poached on custodianship farms and 16 white rhinos were poached on private farms across the country. A total of 32 poached rhinos were black, while 16 were white.

Karkasse op private wildplase gevind: Een van die renosterkarkasse wat ontdek is, was dié van 'n dragtige koei. 

Carcasses found on private game farms: One of the rhino carcasses discovered was that of a pregnant cow.

Auf zwei privaten Wildfarmen in den Gegenden um Otjituuo und Otjiwarongo wurden erneut zwei Spitzmaulnashörner gewildert. Eines der zwei weiblichen Tiere war gar tragend. Damit ist die Zahl gewilderter Nashörner in Namibia auf insgesamt 48 gestiegen, 32 davon die bedrohten Spitzmaulnashörner. Laut Ermittlerin Maureen Mbeha von der Polizei in der OtjozondjupaRegion wurde das trächtige Nashorn von unbekannten Verdächtigen erschossen und wurden beide Nasenhörner abgehackt. Der Verlustwert liegt bei geschätzt einer Million Namibia-Dollar.

The first eight months of 2022 saw 48 rhinos poached, four times more than the rhinos poached in 2021, the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism announced on Wednesday. The country recorded 44 rhinos poached in 2021, 42 in 2020, 57 in 2019, 83 in 2018, and 55 in 2017. The Etosha National Park alone saw 20 cases this year, with two carcasses discovered in the area just last week. In total, 32 poached rhinos are black and 16 are white. A total of 12 black rhinos were poached on custodianship farms and 16 white rhinos were poached on private farms.

Namibia saw 48 rhinos killed for their horns in the first eight months of 2022, four more than the 44 cases reported in 2021. The country recorded 44 rhinos poached in 2021, 42 in 2020, 57 in 2019, 83 in 2018, and 55 in 2017. Etosha National Park alone saw 20 cases this year, with two carcasses discovered in the area just last week. The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism said of the poached rhinos, 32 are black and 16 are white.