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.
Explore your search results using the filter checkboxes, or amend your search or start a new search.
Two villagers from Binga who were caught trying to sell a live pangolin in Zambia have been sentenced to a mandatory five years in jail each in the neighbouring country. Ephrain Mugande (35) and Simple Mugande (32) both of Manjolo Village under Chief Sikalenge illegally hunted the pangolin in Chizarira National Park on the boundary of Binga and Gokwe before crossing the Zambezi River with it to Sinazongwe town in Zambia with the intention to sell it.
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ZIM_2020-09_Two Binga villagers arrested for trying to sell pangolin_The Chronicle.pdf | 616.79 KB |
'n Angolese man en twee Namibiërs is verlede week glo met twee olifanttande in hul besit vasgetrek.
An Angolan man and two Namibians were allegedly caught with two elephant tusks in their possession last week.
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NAM_2020-09_Drie mans vas oor twee olifanttande_Republikein.pdf | 311.35 KB |
NAM_2020-09_Three men arrested for two elephant tusks_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 219.09 KB |
Three men were arrested for allegedly possessing elephant tusks on 22 September at Mukwe in the Kavango East Region.
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NAM_2020-09_Three arrested with elephant tusks_Namibia News Digest.pdf | 129.64 KB |
Six months into COVID-19 lockdown and with most southern African nations not having social safety nets for their citizens, there has been an uptick in wildlife poaching across the region.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, World Rhino Day will be marked with a talent show virtual event this year. "Even though Covid-19 is keeping us from our usual celebrations, this year we hope we can get as many people as possible from here in Namibia and around the world to show their pride and talent by joining us in a virtual campaign," said Clemens Naomab, regional project coordinator for the Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF), on Saturday. World Rhino Day is an international event, recognised by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN),…
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NAM_2020-09_Celebrate World Rhino Day with talent_The Namibian.pdf | 405.42 KB |
The bail hearing of self-proclaimed preacher Jackson Babi and his co-accused Ananias Ananias is scheduled to take place next week in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court. The two are seeking bail in their second case where they face bribery charges for allegedly offering a N$13 000 bribe to investigation officers. Babi and Ananias made an appearance before magistrate Samunzala Samunzala yesterday where they were informed investigations are not yet finalised in their matter.
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NAM_2020-09_Prophet Babi_co_accused get bail hearing date_New Era.pdf | 477.82 KB |
Around the world countries are adjusting to what their "new normal" looks like in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. For rhinoceros conservationists in Africa, it means coping with fewer resources while fighting an increase in the risk of poaching. Illegal hunting is nothing new for the dwindling rhino species, but the pandemic has amplified the threat and left their future more uncertain than ever.
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Loneley planet_2020-09_How the pandemic threatens rhino conservation_Loneley planet.pdf | 860.93 KB |
22 Nashörner und zwei Elefanten wurden in diesem Jahr in Namibia von Wilderern getötet. Das ist weniger als in den beiden Jahren zuvor, teilte Romeo Muyunda, Pressesprecher im Ministerium für Umwelt, Forstwirtschaft und Tourismus, jetzt mit.
22 rhinos and two elephants were killed by poachers in Namibia this year. That is less than in the previous two years, said Romeo Muyunda, press spokesman in the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism.
This year a total of 22 rhinos and two elephants have been poached. During the same period last year, poachers killed46 rhinos and 13 elephants.
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NAM_2020–09_ 22 rhinos poached this year_down from 46 last year_Africa Sustainable Conservation News.pdf | 707.37 KB |
After a study on black rhinos in Namibia, new software has been developed by researchers in the United States that could help conservationists keep a watchful eye on the black rhino. The interactive software was jointly developed by researchers at Duke University and analytics software specialist SAS and analyses the footprints left behind by black rhinos. This can be used to monitor their movements and enable conservationists to help keep the animals safe from poachers.
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NAM_2020-09_New technology to help monitor rhinos_Namibian Sun.pdf | 202.56 KB |
A well-known Mpumalanga farmer was sentenced in the Middelburg Regional Court yesterday for selling rhino horns without a permit.
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SA_2020-09_Mpumalanga farmer sentenced for dealing in rhino horns without permit_Lowvelder.pdf | 329.46 KB |
Twenty-two rhinos and two elephants have been killed by poachers thus far in 2020, the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Environment has said.
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NAM_2020-09_Twenty-two rhinos and two elephants poached so far this year_MEFT_Namibia News Digest.pdf | 106.43 KB |
Altesaam 19 vermeende wildmisdadigers is verlede week in hegtenis geneem en aangekla.
A total of 19 suspected wildlife criminals were arrested and charged last week.
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NAM_2020-09_19 vir wildmisdaad aangekla_Republikein.pdf | 155.12 KB |
NAM_2020-09_19 charged with wildlife crime_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 52.35 KB |
The vigilance of the farming community around Kamanjab led to the arrest of a gang of poachers that were on their way to hunt rhinos in the Etosha National Park. According to the crime bulletin provided by the Public Relations Division of the Namibian Police, the five suspects were arrested on Farm Marinhohe in the Kamanjab policing area on Thursday evening after members of the community spotted them being dropped off by a suspicious vehicle.
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NAM_2020-09_Vigilance leads to arrest of a poaching gang_Informante.pdf | 846.28 KB |
Drie Namibiese mans wat glo ‘n renoster in die Etosha Nasionale Park wou stroop, bly in aanhouding nadat hulle vandag in die Outjo-landdroshof op vyf klagte verskyn het.
Three Namibian men who allegedly wanted to poach a rhino in the Etosha National Park remain in custody after appearing in the Outjo Magistrate's Court today on five charges.
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NAM_2020-09_Renosterstropery Drie bly in aanhouding_Republikien.pdf | 156.33 KB |
NAM_2020-09_Rhino poaching Three remain in custody_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 58.75 KB |
Botswana's National Assembly has rejected a call to rearm its game rangers that was driven by a surge in rhinoceros poaching in recent years. Guns were taken away from the rangers in 201, but an opposition party lawmaker had moved a motion to rearm the wildlife officers.
Drie verdagtes wat glo ’n renoster in die Etosha Nasionale Park wou stroop, verskyn môre op verskeie klagte in die landdroshof op Kamanjab. Hulle is Donderdag tussen Kamanjab en die plaas Marinhohe in dié distrik vasgetrek.
Three suspects who allegedly wanted to poach a rhino in the Etosha National Park will appear in the Kamanjab Magistrate's Court tomorrow on various charges. They were caught on Thursday between Kamanjab and the farm Marinhohe in the district.
Illegal trade in the endangered animals on the rise again as lockdown decreases. Several pangolins have already been rescued this year.
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SA_2020-09_Pangolin rescued and three people arrested in North West_The South African.pdf | 386.65 KB |
The police in Lulekani have launched a manhunt for the alleged poachers who shot and killed two rhinos on different locations on one of the game farms near Swelane village.
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SA-2020-09_Police launch manhunt for rhino poachers_Letaba Herald.pdf | 276.38 KB |
We are working with conservation charity Space for Giants to protect wildlife at risk from poachers due to the conservation funding crisis caused by Covid-19. Help is desperately needed to support wildlife rangers, local communities and law enforcement personnel to prevent wildlife crime.
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SA_2020-09_Inside the courtroom battle against the deadly rhino horn trade_The Independent UK.pdf | 701.04 KB |
COVID-19 has had significant effects in Namibia, as it has in every other country on planet Earth. The Namibian tourism industry has been temporarily disrupted, which has halted the tourism income which usually upports conservation initiatives. One may expect this would result in an immediate surge in wildlife crime. This is not the case. In spite of the massive challenges created by the coronavirus pandemic, Namibia has not experienced a spike in wildlife crime, as the number of registered cases is not higher than the same period last year.
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NAM_2020-09_Anti_poaching units active amid Covid_19_The Namibian.pdf | 586.09 KB |
Drie Namibiese mans is verlede week in verband met renosterstropery en twee oor horingsmokkelary in hegtenis geneem. Volgens die weeklikste wildmisdaadverslag van 31 Augustus tot 6 September van die Namibiese polisie en die ministerie van die omgewing, bosbou en toerisme, is altesaam tien vermeende wildmisdadigers in hegtenis geneem en ses nuwe sake aanhangig gemaak.
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NAM_2020-09_Vyf vas oor renosterkarkas en horings_Republikein.pdf | 224.04 KB |
NAM_2020-09_Five arrested over rhino carcass and horns_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 224.04 KB |
Three poachers brutally killed eight calves and mutilated six more on the farm Randveld of Jacques Swartz at around 02:00 on Sunday. The calves were attacked with spears and axes, and their intestines were ripped out. Swartz said he and a few watchmen were doing their night patrol - something they started doing regularly after a similar incident last month when four cattle were killed in a similar incident.
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NAM_2020-08_Poaching carnage at Randveld farm_Namibian Sun.pdf | 477.15 KB |
Interactive software that 'reads' and analyzes footprints left by black rhinoceroses can be used to monitor the movements of the animals in the wild, giving conservationists a new way to keep watch on the endangered species and help keep it safe from poachers, according to a new study.
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Nam_2020_09_New tracking technology will help fight rhino poaching in Namibia.PDF | 105.23 KB |
Drie Namibiese mans is verlede week in verband met renosterstropery en twee oor horingsmokkelary in hegtenis geneem.
Three Namibian men were arrested last week in connection with rhino poaching and two for rhino horn smuggling.
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NAM_2020-09_Renosterkarkas en horing gekonfiskeer_Republikein.pdf | 399.3 KB |
NAM_2020-09_ Rhino carcass and horn confiscated_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 224.07 KB |
More than 150 illegal wildlife products were seized last week and 10 suspects were arrested, while six new cases were registered. Five of the suspects were arrested in connection with rhino poaching or trafficking cases.
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NAM_2020-09_155 wildlife products seized_Namibian Sun.pdf | 294.98 KB |
Early in October, four ranger from Save the Rhino Trust (SRT) will show the rest of the world what it takes to be out in the wild, day in day out, tracking rhinos, deterring poachers, and earning an income for them and their families.
A mature female Temminck's pangolin was retrieved out of the illegal trade by the South African Police Service’s Endangered Species Unit on April 25 in the Alldays region of Limpopo Province. She was transported to a Polokwane veterinarian which is where the Johannesburg Wildlife Veterinary Hospital’s Dr Karin Lourens drove to assist with the stabilising and initial examination. During an abdominal ultrasound, it was discovered that Ally was pregnant!
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SA_2020-09_Rescued pangolin gives birth in Limpopo_Getaway.pdf | 542.81 KB |
Two armed poachers were shot dead at Chirisa Game Park in Gokwe over the weekend in a gun combat with Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) rangers. ZimParks is now using drones to patrol its vast estate, and so far this year, 800 poachers have been detected and more than 600 arrested by follow-up patrols.
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ZIM_2020-09_Two suspected poachers killed in raid_The Herald.pdf | 344.55 KB |
Notorious Congolese poacher Mobanza Mobembo Gérard, who is said to have poached some 500 elephants in the Republic of Congo, was last month sentenced to a 30-year jail term in an unprecedented wildlife crime conviction in that country.
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NAM_2020-09_Butcher poacher locked up for 30 years_The Namibian.pdf | 520.29 KB |
Two abalone smugglers were each sentenced to xve years in prison this week, just over two months after they were arrested in a joint police operation on the N1 near the Huguenot tunnel in the Western Cape in June.
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SA_2020-09_Abalone poachers surrender R100k in proceeds of crime after arrest_Sunday Times.pdf | 982.98 KB |
Two black rhinos - a cow and calf - were shot and killed in the Sesfontein area in Kunene with an unknown firearm. The animals were dehorned with an unknown sharp object. The incident occurred between 24 and 28 August at Otjomumbonde in the Omatendeka conservancy area.
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NAM_2020-09_2 black rhino killed for horns near Sesfontein_Africa Sustainable Conservation News.pdf | 89.74 KB |
Die Behörden ermitteln in einem Fall zweier gewilderter Spitzmaulnashörner, die in der Otjomumbonde-Gegend in dem Hegegebiet Omatendeka gefunden wurden. Das geht aus dem am Sonntag veröffentlichten Polizeibericht hervor.
The authorities are investigating a case of two poached black rhinos that were found in the Otjomumbonde area in the Omatendeka conservation area. This emerges from the police report published on Sunday.
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NAM_2020-09_Wilderer toeten zwei Nashoerner_Allgemeine Zeitung.pdf | 327.28 KB |
NAM_2020-09_Poachers kill two rhinos_Allgemeine Zeitung_Eng.pdf | 221.72 KB |
’n Zambiese man, mnr. Tumone Biemba, is verlede week op Katima Mulilo glo met een olifanttand en 81 ietermagôskubbe vasgetrek.
A Zambian man, mr. Tumone Biemba, was allegedly caught on Katima Mulilo last week with one elephant tooth and 81 pangolin scales.
The slaughter of Namibia’s rhino continues, with yet another being poached - this time on a privately owned game farm in the Otjozondjupa Region. This was the third white rhino that has been poached on Farm Okamahoro since the middle of last month. The farm is situated approximately 35km west of Okahandja. Okamahoro Farm no. 20 is privately owned and farms with a variety of game, including rhinos. According to Otjozondjupa police spokesperson Warrant Officer, Maureen Mbeha, a female rhino carcass was discovered last Thursday.
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NAM_2015-06_Third white rhino poached at Okamahoro Farm_ Namibian Sun.pdf | 60.28 KB |
The arrest of a Chinese national suspected of co-ordinating rhino horn smuggling from Namibia is among the major successes that has been achieved by an international law-enforcement operation combating wildlife crime. The operation - codenamed ‘Operation COBRA III’ - was conducted during May and involved a series of raids conducted across Asia, Africa and Europe, resulting in more than 300 arrests of suspects, including kingpins, and over 600 seizures of assorted wildlife contraband. There have also been more tip-offs leading to the unearthing of criminal networks and their…
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NAM_2015-06_Local kingpin arrest linked to global anti-poaching operation_ Namibian Sun.pdf | 100.54 KB |
Yet another black rhino was poached in the Omatendeka Conservancy in Southern Kunene over the weekend, bringing the total number of poached rhinos in the country to 69 this year. The rhino is the fifth to be poached in the same area within a couple of months. The Ministry of Environment and Tourism confirmed yesterday that five people were arrested in connection with the incident after they were discovered with two rhino horns in their possession.
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NAM_2015-06_Rhino carcass discovered at Omatendeka Conservancy_The Namibian.pdf | 222.79 KB |
Five Namibian men were arrested on Saturday afternoon in the Kunene Region after they were found with a freshly sawn off black rhinoceros horn and a rifle, allegedly used to shoot the rhino. The five appeared before Magistrate Leena Iyambo at Opuwo on Monday afternoon.
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NAM_2015-06_Five Namibians arrested with rhino horn in Kunene_The Namibian.pdf | 387.08 KB |
In a move to control rhino poaching, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism started constructing a proper boundary fence to protect animals in the Etosha National Park. The fencing is expected to cost an estimated N$700 000 per kilometre. Etosha measures 824 kilometres, and the ministry would need about N$576 million to fence it all. The ministry, however, does not have enough funds for the project and has requested an additional N$167 million during this financial year. It was allocated about N$643 million in the 2015/2016 national budget.
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NAM_2015-06_Fencing Etosha to prevent poaching_The Namibian.pdf | 436.57 KB |
The Chinese Embassy in Windhoek, through its office of the director of political affairs, Wang Xuguang (Tony), responded to a request by Nampa on the Embassy's stance after another Chinese national appeared in court for alleged rhinoceros horn smuggling.
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NAM_2015-06_Chinese Embassy on rhino horn case-The Namibian.pdf | 317.56 KB |
The Namibia Wildlife Resorts (NWR) says it has ensured that none of its staff are carrying personal firearms at its establishments inside Namibia’s national parks. This follows a recent directive by Environment and Tourism Minister, Pohamba Shifeta, that no ministry or NWR employee should keep personal firearms within national parks. NWR said in a statement it has made an effort to ensure that this directive is enforced at all its establishments inside national parks.
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NAM_2015-06_NWR cracks the whip on staff personal firearms_Namibian Sun.pdf | 60.56 KB |
A Chinese, who police believe to be the 'kingpin' in one of Namibia's biggest rhino horn smuggling cases, was denied bail by the Windhoek Magistrate's Court in Katutura yesterday. Wang Hui (40), who was remanded in custody at the Windhoek Correctional Facility, had his case transferred to the Regional Court where he is expected to appear on 25 June.
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NAM_2015-06_No bail for Chinese linked to rhino horns_The Namibian.pdf | 217.13 KB |
Four Chinese suspects, who were arrested in connection with allegedly trying to smuggle 14 rhino horns out of the Namibia, will now be appearing together in the Windhoek Regional Court in Katutura at the end of the month. This follows a decision by the Office of the Prosecutor-General that 40-year-old Wang Huii, who was arrested last month at the Windhoek Country Club, should appear together with three other Chinese suspects who were arrested last year.
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NAM_2015-06_Fourth Chinese suspect added to rhino horn case_Namibian Sun.pdf | 76.3 KB |
The Opuwo Magistrate’s Court has applied for a warrant of arrest for a Chinese national, who was arrested for dealing in illegal rhino horns last year. The warrant will be executed it if he fails to appear before the court within the next two weeks. Dejin Xu, who was allegedly found with two rhino horns during a sting operation in February last year, was due to appear in the Opuwo Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday for plea and trial. Prosecutor Obert Tavengwa Masendeke said the court was yesterday presented with a doctor’s letter stating that he is unable to attend the proceedings…
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NAM_2015-06_Warrant of arrest for Chinese rhino horn suspect_Namibian Sun.pdf | 60 KB |
Ninety-five black rhinos and eight white rhinos have been poached in Namibia since 2005, the ministry of environment and tourism revealed yesterday. Minister of environment Pohamba Shifeta said this, when he revealed the outcome of tests conducted on the latest rhino and elephant carcasses discovered since 2014.
Shifeta said over the last 10 years, 294 black rhinos died of natural causes, while 95 others were poached and seven others were killed for trophy hunting.
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NAM_2015-09_103 rhinos poached in the last 10 years_The Namibian.pdf | 222.78 KB |