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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Vietnamese syndicates play an outsized, sophisticated role in the illicit trade of elephant ivory, rhinoceros horn, pangolin scales, and other wildlife products, according to a recent undercover investigation by the Environmental Investigation Agency that details sourcing, packing, and transporting ivory and rhino horn through an intricate maze of transport routes out of various African ports to Malaysia, then through Laos, and finally overland into Vietnam. The numbers are staggering.
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AFR_2023_09_Vietnamese Syndicates Wiping out African Megafauna_Asia Sentinel.pdf | 374.59 KB |
R155 billion!
A Mozambican national has been sentenced to ten years behind bars for killing a rhino at Kruger National Park in Skukuza while serving another jail sentence for a similar offence. The Skukuza Regional Court has sentenced a Mozambican national, Lucky Mabunda, 47, to 10 years of direct imprisonment for killing a rhino in Skukuza National Park in 2019.
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SA_2023_09_Mozambican national sentenced to 10 years for killing a rhino in Kruger National Park_IOL.pdf | 324.62 KB |
Vanjaar is 39 renosters tot dusver in Namibië gestroop, vergeleke met 92 in 2022 en 50 in 2021. Die minister van die omgewing, bosbou en toerisme, Pohamba Shifeta, het hierdie syfers gedeel by die herdenking van Wêreldrenosterdag Vrydag by Okaukuejo in die Etosha Nasionale Park. By die geleentheid het die minister ook amptelik 'n perde-teenstropingseenheid van stapel gestuur. Die ministerie het altesaam 13 perde teen N$10 000 elk gekoop, met finansieringshulp van die Wildprodukte- rustfonds.
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NAM_2023_09_Perde opgesaal vir renosterbewaring_Republikein.pdf | 296.52 KB |
NAM_2023_09_Horses saddled for rhino conservation_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 278.3 KB |
Namibia strengthened its anti-poaching drive by launching two rhino preservation plans and a horse patrol unit at the country's Etosha National Park on Friday. Speaking at the commemoration of World Rhino Day, which falls on 22 September every year, Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism Pohamba Shifeta said the day is dedicated to raising awareness of the threats facing the rhino population, and how the world can come together to protect these endangered species.
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NAM_2023_09_Namibia steps up anti_poaching efforts_New Era.pdf | 260.63 KB |
This year, 39 rhinos have been poached so far in Namibia, compared to 92 in 2022 and 50 in 2021. Tourism minister Pohamba Shifeta presented these figures at the commemoration of World Rhino Day on Friday at Okaukuejo in Etosha National Park. At the event, the minister also officially launched a horse anti-poaching unit. A total of 13 horses have been purchased by the ministry for N$10 000 each, with funding support from the Game Product Trust Fund.
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NAM_2023_09_Horses roped into rhino protection fight_Namibian Sun.pdf | 456.61 KB |
The anti-poaching drive was strengthened with the recent launch of two Rhino Management plans and a horse patrol unit last week at the Etosha National Park on Friday. Speaking at the commemoration of World Rhino Day, the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT), Pohamba Shifeta said the day is dedicated to raising awareness about the threats that the rhino population is facing and how the world can come together and protect these endangered species.
Für die Erhaltung und den Schutz der Nashörner führt das Ministerium laut Pohamba daher den Einsatz einer Pferdeeinheit ein. Insgesamt 13 Pferde wurden vom Ministerium mit finanzieller
Unterstützung des "Game Product Trust Fund" für jeweils 10 000 N$ gekauft. Demnach werden
acht Pferde im Etosha-Nationalpark stationiert sein und fünf im Waterberg-Plateau-Park.
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NAM_2023_09_Welt_Nashorn_Tag Begangen_Allgemeine Zeitung.pdf | 368.59 KB |
NAM_2023_09_World rhinocerous day celebrated_Allgemeine Zeitung_Eng.pdf | 348.18 KB |
The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism has launched a new initiative to fight against rhino poaching. Speaking at the launch of the initiative, which coincided with the commemoration of the World Rhino Day hosted at Okaukejo over the weekend, environment minister Pohamba Shifeta said Namibia has the second-largest white Rhino population in the world after South Africa and the largest population of black Rhinos in the world. However, Shifeta said that rhinos have become an endangered species, and, in some areas, they have even become extinct…
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NAM_2023_09_Environment ministry ups fights against rhino poaching_The Namibian.pdf | 130.86 KB |
South Africa has lost 231 rhinos to poaching since the beginning of the year.
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SA_2023_09_231 rhinos lost to poaching in SA this year_ongoing concerns on World Rhino Day_SABC News.pdf | 208.12 KB |
As the globe observes World Rhino Day, South Africa has lost 231 rhinos to poaching since the beginning of the year.
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SA_2023_09_Researcher highlights continuous rhino onslaught in South Africa_SABC News.pdf | 135.58 KB |
As the international community marks World Rhino Day on Friday, South Africa and other parts of the African continent are still facing the challenge of rhino poaching. The International Rhino Foundation says poachers have shifted their focus from the larger rhino populations to smaller, and possibly more susceptible ones. In South Africa, poachers are focusing on smaller areas, like the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve, which has borne the brunt of South Africa’s rhino poaching deaths in the past year. While Namibia, home to the…
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SA_2023_09_Rhino poaching remains a challenge in SA and Africa_SABC News.pdf | 188.61 KB |
Campbell's death was as gruesome as the killers' previous nine known crimes. Found mutilated in a pool of blood at his home in the district of Albany, South Africa, in June 2016, Campbell had been drugged but was likely in pain before he died from his injuries. Campbell was a white rhinoceros living on a private reserve, and his killing would be the last hurrah of the now notorious Ndlovu Gang.
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SA_2023_09_Animal CSI_Forensics comes for the wildlife trade_Knowable Magazine.pdf | 726.24 KB |
There are around 26 000 rhinos left in the world. 68% of those live in South Africa. By far the majority of them are Southern White Rhinos, which are particularly vulnerable to poaching, because most of them are found in the open Savannah of national parks, making them easy targets. There are four other remaining species of rhino. The Black Rhino, of which there are around 6000, is found in southern and east Africa. The other African species, the Northern White Rhino, is effectively extinct, as the two remaining are both female.
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SA_2023_09_Rhino Poaching_Will it ever end_SABC News.pdf | 199.08 KB |
Pangolin poaching for enhanced sexual pleasure on the increase. The Commander of Botswana Defence Force, Lieutenant General Placid Segokgo, has warned that poaching will continue to be part of our lives for as long as some countries in Asia cling to their beliefs that some organs of wild animals give them sexual powers. Addressing journalists at a recent press briefing, Segokgo said, “There are some people in the East who believe that consuming or applying samples of organs such as horns, teeth, or even skins enhance their sexual…
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BOT_2023_09_Illegal wildlife trade fuels poaching_Segokgo_TheVoiceBW.pdf | 245.59 KB |
South African National Parks (SANParks) recently introduced new measures to help combat poaching in the country's biggest national parks. Building on last year’s donation of four Bat Hawk surveillance aircraft to aid surveillance, conservation,and anti-poaching efforts in the Kruger National Park, Anglo American Platinum donated another BatHawk last week that will be going to SANParks' Addo Elephant National Park in the Eastern Cape.
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SA_2023_09_SANParks make strides against rhino poaching_Southern and East African Tourism Update.pdf | 164.87 KB |
Building on last year's donation of four Bat Hawk surveillance aircraft to South African National Parks (SANParks) to aid surveillance, conservation and anti-poaching efforts in the Kruger National Park, Anglo American Platinum this morning donated another Bat Hawk that will be going to SANParks' Addo Elephant National Park in the Eastern Cape. In addition, a Bat Hawk aircraft will be donated to Mapungubwe National Park, which is located on the border of South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe.
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SA_2023_09_SANParks records a 78 percent decrease in Rhino poaching_Gateway.pdf | 250.77 KB |
Vietnam has seized 11.8 kilograms of rhino horns and 4.7 kilograms of elephant ivory in checked-in luggage on a flight from Qatar, Vietnam News Agency reported on Thursday. Customs officers at Noi Bai international airport in Vietnam’s capital of Hanoi found the smuggled rhino horns and ivory in 41 packages wrapped in aluminum foil in two sets of luggage of a Vietnamese man who had traveled from Angola, transited through Doha, Qatar, and arrived in Vietnam on Tuesday. The seizure came after a random check, and the luggage owner claimed that a person had paid him 50…
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VIETNAM_2023_04_Vietnam seizes 16 kg of smuggled rhino horns_ivory_Journal of African Elephants.pdf | 193.09 KB |
Zwelithini Mathebula 37, and Lucky Mhlongo 39, were sentenced to 34 years' imprisonment while their co-accused Teddy Dlamini 37, was sentenced to 39 years' imprisonment. NPA regional spokesperson Monica Nyuswa, said that the three culprits were arrested in November 2019, along with their two co-accused who absconded after they were granted bail. The three were convicted of killing three rhinos, possession of a prohibited firearm, possession of a firearm, conspiracy to commit a crime, possession of ammunition, and possession of a dangerous weapon.
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SA_2023_04_Trio of rhino KNP poachers handed prison terms totalling over 100 years_IOL 2023.pdf | 295.28 KB |
Five rhino horns, one hunting rifle with a silencer, fourteen live rounds, two knives and five mobile phones were recovered from the car. The Skukuza Regional Court on Tuesday sentenced rhino poachers to 34 and 39 years in prison following following their arrest in November 2019. According to Brigadier Selvy Mohlala, two of the three suspects who were arrested for rhino poaching and other related crimes were sentenced to 34 years' imprisonment. The third suspect was sentenced to 39 years' imprisonment.
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SA_2023_04_Rhino poachers sentenced to 34 years in prison_The Citizen.pdf | 330.72 KB |
The functional forces have just discovered a package containing 11.82 kg of rhino horn and 4,712 kg of smuggled ivory transported on a flight from Doha (Quatar) to Vietnam. When scanning the above 02 pieces of luggage through a portable scanner, the Import Baggage Procedure Team discovered suspicious images of rhino horns and ivory, so they invited Ninh Ba Dien passenger to the headquarters. for fact check. According to the inspection results, in addition to his carry-on luggage, Mr.
During a time in which South Africa's wildlife is under attack by poaching, a new study has shown that popular anti-poaching technologies could be an easy target for cyber-attacks. Stellenbosch University student Christelle Steyn, who is part of the Orange Cyberdefence Academy, conducted research that shows that various technologies, such as tracking tags, CCTV, mobile apps and drones could increase the risks of cyber-attacks.
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SA_2023_04_Weak spots in anti_poaching technology an easy target for hackers_Kempton Epress.pdf | 259.58 KB |
In 2022 Kruger lost 124 rhinos, a figure David Bryant, shadow forestry, fisheries and environment minister, believes will rise because SANParks filled just five of 87 vacant ranger posts in the Kruger Park.
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SA_2023_04_Shortage of rangers at Kruger Park endangers rhinos_The Citizen.pdf | 403.34 KB |
The Quatro de Fevereiro International Airport, Angola's capital city Luanda, has recently been the gateway for many disguised tourists, with the clear intention of illicit trafficking of ivory and rhino horn. In the last three months alone, the Criminal Investigation Service (SIC), coordinating with other forces in the airport's security system, detained two Vietnamese citizens in possession of 26 kilograms of ivory worked into jewellery; four kilograms of raw ivory; rhino horns, weighing 6.6 kilograms; and five rolls of elephant tail yarn, weighing eight grams.
Maputo - The authorities have detained for the second time a notorious Mozambican poacher, Simon Ernesto Valoi, known in the world of crime as "Boss Navarra". Valoi has been held in a Mozambican prison since July 2022. According to a report in the Maputo daily "Noticias', Valoi refused to name his accomplices, who remain at large. Investigators set a trap for Valoi. Pretending to be corrupt, they provided him with a mobile phone through which he could contact his relatives and other members of the poaching ring.
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MOZ_2023_04_ Poaching ringleader detained for second time_allAfrica_com.pdf | 61.32 KB |
Mindestens acht Verdächtige wurden über das Osterwochenende bei zwei verschiedenen Vorfällen im Zusammenhang mit der Wilderei von Nashörnern festgenommen. Nach Angaben des Sprechers des Umweltministeriums, Romeo Muyunda, wurden zwei Verdächtige am 6. April auf der Straße zwischen Tsumeb und Otavi an einer mobilen Straßensperre festgenommen, weil sie illegal in den Etosha-Nationalpark eingedrungen waren, um Nashörner zu jagen. In ihrem Besitz wurden zwei frische Nashornhörner gefunden, die von den Strafverfolgungsbehörden unter der Leitung des Blue Rhino Task Team beschlagnahmt…
Agt verdagtes is oor die Paasnaweek vir renosterstropery-verwante misdade in twee afsonderlike voorvalle in hegtenis geneem. Volgens die woordvoerder van die omgewingsministerie Romeo Muyunda, is twee verdagtes op 6 April op die Tsumeb/Otavi-pad by 'n mobiele padblokkade in hegtenis geneem omdat hulle onwettig die Etosha Nasionale Park binnegegaan het om renosters te jag. Twee vars renosterhorings is in hul besit gevind en deur die wetstoepassingsagentskappe onder leiding van die Blue Rhino-taakspan op beslag gelê.
At least eight suspects were arrested over the Easter Weekend for rhino poaching-related crimes in two separate incidents. According to the spokesperson of the environment ministry Romeo Muyunda, two suspects were arrested on 6 April on the Tsumeb/Otavi road at a mobile roadblock for illegally entering the Etosha National Park to hunt rhinos. Two fresh rhino horns were found in their possession and confiscated by the law enforcement agencies led by the Blue Rhino Task Team.
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NAM_2023_04_Eight arrested for rhino poaching over easter_Namibian Sun.pdf | 391.33 KB |
The Ministry of Environment Tourism and Forestry has arrested eight suspects on charges related to rhino poaching over the Easter long weekend, in two separate incidents. "Last week two suspects that illegally entered the Etosha National Park to hunt Rhinos were arrested during a mobile roadblock on the Tsumeb and Otavi road, two fresh rhino horns were found in their possession and confiscated by Blue Rhino Task Team," the environment Ministry's Chief Public Relations Officer, Romeo Muyunda said in a statement.
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NAM_2023_04_Eight suspected rhino poachers arrested_Windhoek Oberserver.pdf | 217.96 KB |
Eight suspects were netted over the long easter weekend for crime related to rhino poaching in two separate incidences, the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism announced on Thursday.
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NAM_2023_04_ Eight suspects recently busted for crimes related to rhino poaching_Namibia Economist.pdf | 265.68 KB |
Botswana's wildlife authorities say four rhinoceroses were shot, and two of them died, in a heavily guarded sanctuary, although their horns were not removed. The shootings at the sanctuary in central Botswana came after the government de-horned and relocated most of the rhinos further inland to discourage poachers.
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BOT_2023_04_Botswana on alert after shooting of rhinos in sanctuary_VOA News.pdf | 272.64 KB |
The discovery of three rhino carcasses has led to the arrest of eight suspects, of which three were identified as anti-poaching security personnel on a private farm in the Outjo District. According to Romeo Muyunda, Public Relations Officer, within the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, on 7 April 2023, two suspects were arrested after they were found in possession of one pair of rhino horns in yet another operation by security forces on the Outjo-Otavi Road.
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NAM_2023_04_Three Anti_Poaching Officers arrested for Poaching over Easter_Informante.pdf | 61.64 KB |
Die Strafverfolgungsbehörden in Namibia, Mosambik und Sambia werden immer aufmerksamer, wenn es um den illegalen Schmuggel von u. a. Abalonen (Meeresschnecken) durch ihre Länder geht. Denn es mehren sich die Hinweise, dass dieselben Unternehmen und Personen, die in diesen Schmuggel verwickelt sind, auch an der Ausfuhr anderer illegaler Wildprodukte und weiteren illegalen Aktivitäten beteiligt sind. Demnach scheinen verschiedene Formen der Kriminalität mit dem illegalen Handel von Wildtieren zusammenzuhängen.
Wetstoepassers in Namibië, asook in Mosambiek en Zambië begin al hoe meer let op die onwettige smokkelary van onder meer perlemoen deur hul lande. Dit omdat daar groeiende bewyse is dat dieselfde maatskappye en individue wat betrokke is in dié smokkelary, ook betrokke is in die uitvoer van onwettige wildprodukte en ander onwettige bedrywighede. Inteendeel, groeiende bewyse dui op 'n samevloeiing van ander vorme van misdaad met onwettige handel in wildprodukte.
There is a R100 000 reward that is up for grabs for information leading to the poachers of two rhinos at Sibuya Game Reserve. Their carcasses were only found on Thursday. At least 14 other rhinos have been killed in the Eastern Cape since December, leading to suspicion that a single syndicate may be responsible for the attacks. The reward has been posted by the Buffalo Kloof Game Reserve, in nearby Makhanda, whose owner, Warne Rippon, said he hoped it would help bring the perpetrators to justice.
Police have confirmed the arrest of one of the five convicted rhino poachers who escaped from prison in Makhanda in October last year. "We can confirm the arrest and that he was involved in attempted poaching at one of the private game reserves," South African Police Service spokesperson Warrant Officer Majola Nkohli told talk of the Town. Seven men escaped from Grahamstown Correctional Facility in October 2022. One of them, convicted poacher Trymore Chauke was arrested at Seven Fountains around 7pm on Sunday 23 October.
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SA_2023_04_Convicted rhino poacher arrested at private game reserve_Dispatch Live.pdf | 289.7 KB |
Two carcasses of rhinos were found in the Etosha National Park last Monday and Wednesday.
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NAM_2023_04_Two rhinos poached at Etosha_The Namibian.pdf | 109.75 KB |
'An incredible story of courage and survival that has now been obliterated' is how wildlife veterinarian Dr William Fowlds has described the killing this week of two orphaned survivors of a 2016 rhino poaching incident at Sibuya Game Reserve. In a bitter blow to the rhino conservation community, two rhinos who mothers were killed by poachers seven years ago were themselves killed by poachers on Tuesday April 4.
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SA_2023_04_Bitter twist to new double Sibuya rhino killings_Dispatch Live.pdf | 300.31 KB |
Shuihau Chen. The Chinese national was caught dealing in rhino horn. He has been fined half a million rand and sentenced to two years imprisonment for infringing the Immigration Act Johannesburg - Fifty-year-old Chinese national Shuihau Chen, who was caught dealing in rhino horn, has been fined half a million rand and sentenced to two years imprisonment for infringing the Immigration Act.
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SA_2023_04_Rhino Horn_Chinese National Shuihau Chen Fined R500K_Jailed 2 Years_The Bulrushes.pdf | 215.01 KB |
As the world returns to post-covid normality, so do its trade routes and the unfortunate consequence of increased wildlife trafficking, experts say.
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WORLD_2023_04_Wildlife trafficking could return to pre_pandemic numbers_Getaway.pdf | 449.22 KB |
Bulk shipments by sea accounted for most of the illegal wildlife parts seized by authorities around the world in 2022. The data, from U.S.-based nonprofit C4ADS, also show that seizures of elephant ivory, rhino horn and pangolin scales haven’t yet returned to pre-pandemic levels. However, the decline isn’t uniform across all countries, with China's late reopening from the pandemic this year indicating there might be an increase in trafficking in 2023, especially of ivory. C4ADS has called on law enforcement officials to focus on investigating…
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WORLD_2023_03_Wildlife trafficking gradually returns after pandemic lull_mostly by sea_Mongaby.pdf | 868.66 KB |