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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Faced with an increase in cross-border wildlife offences over the past five years, Rwanda has adopted a technical toolkit to assist authorities in the judicial system to handle wildlife and other environmental crimes. Launched in early December 2022, the Rwanda Rapid Reference Guide on Wildlife and Environmental Crimes and Related Administrative Faults will help address the challenges of lack of evidence in prosecuting wildlife crimes, especially those committed in border communities.
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RWA_2023_02_Rwanda adopts toolkit to prosecute wildlife crimes_Oxpeckers.pdf | 375.78 KB |
The Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DFFE) has reported that relentless pressure has forced rhino poachers to abandon parks in 2022.
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SA_2023_02_Slight decline in rhino poaching in South Africa_IOL.pdf | 285.8 KB |
The police in the Eastern Cape are searching for poachers who shot, killed, and dehorned two rhinos on a safari farm in Paterson on Wednesday evening, 1 February.
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SA_2023_02_Police on the hunt for rhino poachers who killed two rhino_The South African.pdf | 317.53 KB |
Eastern Cape police have arrested two suspects for possession of abalone worth R1.8m in Gqeberha.
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SA_2023_02_Two suspects bust for possession of abalone worth R1.8m in Gqeberha_TimesLive.pdf | 297.41 KB |
Rhinos may look formidable, but their species have declined due to continuous poaching in Nambia and South Africa. Rhinos, mainly the black rhinos, have dealt with population declines due to threats of illegal trade, poaching, habitat loss and infrastructure development. The population of rhinos is critically endangered. Without immediate actions and protection efforts, it would lead to sudden extinction. The economic and political issues in places where Rhinos thrive make it more difficult for conservation efforts.
Two rhinos that survived a poaching attack at Schotia Safaris Private Game Reserve, near Nanaga, nearly 10 years ago were killed by poachers on Thursday. After disabling the pair of male and female white rhinos in the attack, the poachers hacked off their horns with pangas before making their escape.
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SA_2023_02_Schotia rhinos Bonnie and Clyde killed by poachers and dehorned_HeraldLive.pdf | 414.04 KB |
Two rhinos were brutally shot and killed on a safari farm in Paterson late in the evening on Wednesday, earlier this week in the Sarah Baartman District. The poachers had managed to find a way into the farm before stalking, shooting and killing the adult rhinos, thereafter de-horning both of them. A police report told that the two rhinos, one male and the other female, were last spotted during an afternoon game drive. They were only found dead by game rangers the following afternoon while more tourists came through on another game drive.
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SA_2023_02_Two adult rhinos poached on safari farm in Eastern Cape_The Citizen.pdf | 325.82 KB |
A Mozambican man, convicted for poaching, will spend the next 18 years in prison. Santos Baloyi, 31, was arrested after a rhino was killed at Kruger National Park in September. He was also convicted on charges of trespassing, contravention of the Immigration Act, possession of a dangerous weapon.
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SA_2023_02_Mozambican gets 18 years in jails well as on arms ammo and trespassing charges_IOL.pdf | 176.82 KB |
The names of two alleged poachers who died in a skirmish between them and police and Anti-Poaching Unit (APU) members within the Bwabwata National Park on Wednesday, were disclosed by the deputy inspector-general.
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NAM_2016-12_Names disclosed of deceased Bwabwata poachers_The Namibian.pdf | 382.42 KB |
It will be an exaggeration to say that Namibia has turned the tide against wildlife poaching. The situation on the ground clearly suggests that there is no end in sight, and that the country is experiencing a catastrophic rhino and elephant poaching crisis. These illegal killings appear to be part of an international criminal syndicate, with rustlers quick to recruit willing poachers, with the ultimate aim of exporting our precious ivory and rhino horn to Eastern Asian markets.
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NAM_2016-12_Officials colluding with poachers_Namibian Sun.pdf | 48.22 KB |
Four rhinos, including a prized bull, were shot on private land near Gobabis, however, the poachers only got away with the horns of two.
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NAM_2016-12_Four rhinos butchered at Gobabis_Namibian Sun.pdf | 155.5 KB |
Local environmentalists warn Chinese nationals. About 40 environmental organisations have issued a stern warning to Chinese nationals involved in criminal activities in the country.
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NAM_2016-12_Stop poaching now_Namibian Sun.pdf | 93.17 KB |
A shootout in Bwabwata National Park has left one poacher dead with three that got away and the public is warned they are armed and dangerous. A poacher was on Monday fatally shot during crossfire between an anti-poaching unit and a group of poachers in the Bwabwata National Park.
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NAM_2016-12_Elephant poacher shot dead_Namibian Sun.pdf | 120.67 KB |
Police Chief Inspector General Sebastian Ndeitunga says poaching activities in the country should not be downplayed as it is costing the country millions per day. Ndeitunga was addressing the Chinese business community in Windhoek on Thursday following the recent arrests of several Chinese nationals carrying various illegal wildlife products.
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NAM_2016-12_Poaching costing country millions_The Namibian.pdf | 313.75 KB |
The poaching of rhinos and elephants in Namibia is not a crisis because only about 1,2% are poached per year, said environment minister Pohamba Shifeta.
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NAM_2016-12_Shifeta says poaching not a crisis_The Namibian.pdf | 524.75 KB |
The Chinese embassy in Namibia said it will not allow a few of its nationals who have been arrested in connection with poaching to tarnish their country's image.
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NAM_2016-12_Criminal Chinese tarnishing name_The Namibian.pdf | 466.32 KB |
Four men appeared in the Opuwo Magistrate's Court in connection with the wounded rhino found in the Etosha National Park last week. The wounded rhino was discovered last Tuesday. The case of Daniel Shilongo, Amupoko Risto Ekandjo, Petrus Ukongo and Epafras Kasita Eliakim was postponed to today for further investigation.
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NAM_2016-12_Nine in court for Etosha poaching_Namibian Sun.pdf | 101.35 KB |
Namibians should unite against organised and serious environmental crimes such as poaching which involve foreign nationals cooperating with locals for the illicit operations to be successful, police Inspector General Sebastian Ndeitunga said at the Force's Christmas carols' event for the Kavango East region on Friday.
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NAM_2016-12_Protect wildlife for future generations_The Namibian.pdf | 348.66 KB |
Six people found carrying rifles in the Etosha National Park last week were arrested after a wounded rhino was found in the area.
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NAM_2016-12_Six arrested in Etosha_The Namibian.pdf | 189.19 KB |
Elephant and rhino poached, poachers arrested. In what marks a bloody few days for Namibia's wildlife, authorities have scored some major successes with busts and arrests.
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NAM_2016-12_Bloody few days for our wildlife_Namibian Sun.pdf | 88.89 KB |
The recent arrest of a police officer who allowed a Chinese man to pass through our airport security system with a suitcase of rhino horns once again brings to the fore the mischief and illicit dealings between poachers and law enforcement agents.
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NAM_2016-12_Crime_Corruption Worse Than It Seems_The Namibian.pdf | 292.7 KB |
Two Chinese nationals who were caught at the roadblock to the Hosea Kutako International Airport with pieces of elephant tusk will appear in court today. The two were arrested at the Kapps Farm roadblock on Wednesday afternoon when alert police officials searched their vehicle. According to the spokesperson of the Namibian police, Deputy Commissioner Edwin Kanguatjivi the two men were arrested between 12:00 and 14:00 at the roadblock.
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NAM_2016-12_Chinese bust with ivory will appear today_Namibian Sun.pdf | 89.04 KB |
Suspected rhino and elephant poachers have gone missing in Etosha National Park after an alleged shootout with the anti-poaching unit of the Namibian police.
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NAM_2016-12_Three missing in Etosha_Namibian Sun.pdf | 100.22 KB |
The Namibian authorities don’t seem to be in any hurry to shut down a rhino horn smuggling syndicate that has infiltrated security at Windhoek’s airport, writes John Grobler.
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Oxpeckers_The horn scam at Windhoeks airport.pdf | 241.34 KB |
A sergeant in the Namibian police has been arrested in connection with a case in which a Chinese national was arrested with 18 rhino horns at the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg last week. Sergeant Pendapala Abraham Iitula,42, who worked at Hosea Kutako International Airport, appeared before the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court in Katutura yesterday on a charge of defeating and obstructing the course of justice.
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NAM_2016-12_Airport cop arrested in rhino horn case_Namibian Sun.pdf | 79.02 KB |
The arrest of a Chinese citizen who allegedly managed to smuggle 18 rhinoceros horns out of Namibia last week landed a member of the Namibian Police in the dock in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court in Katutura yesterday.
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NAM_2016-12_Airport cop charged over rhino horns_The Namibian.pdf | 534.41 KB |