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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.

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Displaying results 1 - 42 of 42
Thursday, 27 February 2020
Steynberg F 2020. Drie stroop glo renoster in Etosha:  'Ietermagôsmokkelaars' kry borg.

Vanaf 17 tot 23 Februarie is beslag op twee renosterhorings gelê. Drie vermeende renosterstropers in die Etosha Nasionale Park, mnre. Festus Simon, Johannes Valombola en Efraim Malakia, is op 18 Februarie by Okahao in hegtenis geneem. Volgens die polisie is twee renosterhorings, twee .303-jaggewere, 30 patrone en 'n voertuig gekonfiskeer. 

Thursday, 27 February 2020
Smit E 2020. 13 arrested for wildlife crime.

Thirteen suspects were arrested recently in connection with wildlife crimes, while five new cases were opened.  According to statistics released by the intelligence and investigation unit within the environment ministry and the protected resources division in the safety and security ministry, a total of three illegal wildlife products were also seized. 

Wednesday, 26 February 2020
2020. Senior cop arrested over rhino poaching.

A senior police ocer at Oshakati’s protected resources unit was the mastermind behind the poaching incidences which occurred in Etosha National Park last month.

Tuesday, 25 February 2020
2020. Nege vas oor renosterhorings.

Nege verdagtes is verlede week in verband met renosterstropery of -horingsmokkelary in hegtenis geneem. Volgens die wildmisdaadverslag van 17 tot 23 Februarie is beslag op twee renosterhorings gelê. Een likkewaan, 58 ammunisie, vyf vuurwapens en een voertuig is ook gekonfiskeer.

Nine suspects were arrested in connection with rhino poaching or horn smuggling last week. According to the wildlife crime report of 17 to 23 February, two rhino horns were seized. 

Tuesday, 25 February 2020
2020. China bans illegal wildlife trade.

China yesterday declared an immediate and “comprehensive” ban on the trade and consumption of wild animals, a practice believed to be responsible for the deadly coronavirus outbreak.

Saturday, 22 February 2020
de Klerk M 2020. South Africa Mozambique cooperation reduces rhino poaching .

Kruger National Park, South Africa - Officials at South African National Parks say cooperation with neighboring Mozambique has been a key factor in reducing rhinoceros poaching in the famous Kruger National Park. Kruger is home to the world's largest wild rhino population, and has proven a tempting target for poachers who for years jumped the park’s borders.

Saturday, 22 February 2020
Tsiko S 2020. 100,000 children stand against wildlife crime (Zimbabwe and Mozambique) .

About 100,000 children in and around the national parks of Gonarezhou in Zimbabwe and Limpopo in Mozambique are being educated through the Peace and Changemaker Generation project to appreciate wildlife conservation efforts and to take a stand against wildlife crime. The project also promotes girls’ rights in their communities as part of wider efforts to strengthen the two countries’ efforts to combat wildlife trafficking.

Thursday, 20 February 2020
2020. Six suspected smugglers get bail.

The alleged rhino poachers mr. Mapole Tjipopyeni, Thomas Eino, Hofni Mengeri and Petena Karure appeared in court last Monday at Omaruru for the start of their trial.

Thursday, 20 February 2020
2020. 82 arrested for pangolin poaching.

At least 82 people were arrested last year alone and police recovered 17 pangolins and over 1 000 kilogrammes of pangolin scales, as the Zimbabwe Republic Police declares war on wildlife crimes countrywide.

Thursday, 20 February 2020
2020. Ses vermeende smokkelaars kry borg.

Ses vermeende renosterhoringsmokkelaars is verlede week in Namibiese howe op borgtog van N$20 000 elk vrygelaat.

Six suspected rhino horn smugglers were released in Namibian courts last week on bail of N $ 20,000 each.

Thursday, 20 February 2020
Shabani T 2020. BDF patrol team exchanges fire with poachers (Botswana).

Five suspected elephant poachers escaped following re exchange with the members of the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) anti-poaching team in the Shaile area of the Chobe National Park on March 16 afternoon. 

Wednesday, 19 February 2020
Sicetsha A 2020. Rhino poachers stopped in their tracks by KZN police.

Law enforcement officials in Hluhluwe and Mtubatuba, KwaZulu-Natal, have been applauded for the stellar work they displayed in intercepting a group of rhino poachers who were on the verge of claiming the life of one of these endangered animals.

Wednesday, 19 February 2020
Shikongo A 2020. Six arrested for pangolin skin possession.

LAW enforcement agents last week cracked down on six individuals who were found in possession of pangolin skin.

Monday, 17 February 2020
Glasson A 2020. The rhino rifle syndicates.

The rampant increase in wildlife poaching has been widely acknowledged as one of the greatest threats to biodiversity conservation in Africa. The Asian demand for rhinoceros horn has seen a massive onslaught on the white rhino (Ceratotherium simum) and black rhino (Diceros bicornis) populations. Since 2008, there has been a gradual and then explosive growth in rhino poaching in South Africa and, to a lesser extent, Mozambique and Botswana.

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SA_2020-02 South Africa _GGA.pdf 532.91 KB
Monday, 17 February 2020
2020. Role players force rhino poaching into decline (South Africa).

Rhino poaching in South Africa continues to decline as additional steps are taken by the government to ensure the crime is effectively dealt with.

Monday, 17 February 2020
2020. Nampol officers trained in cybercrime, wildlife trafficking.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) in partnership with the US Department of State, conducted a successful Wildlife Trafficking Cybercrime Training Programme (WTCP) in Windhoek, Namibia.

Monday, 17 February 2020
Gauteng poacher gets 24 years for killing nine rhinos (South Africa).

A rhino poacher was sentenced to an effective 24 years imprisonment after he was convicted of 10 counts of rhino poaching, ve counts of theft, two counts of illegal possession of ammunition, illegal possession of rearm, possession of a prohibited rearm, cruelty to animals and money laundering by Free State High Court sitting in Virginia.

Friday, 14 February 2020
2020. Of body bags and poached rhinos.

Shoot-to-kill policies just don’t work, are immoral and unlawful too. To my knowledge, the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) and Department of Wildlife and National Parks (DWNP) anti-poaching squads have killed well over 60 alleged poachers since the late 1980s with no discernible effect.

Thursday, 13 February 2020
2020. Namibia launches conservation fund to tackle human-wildlife conict .

Namibia launched an initiative that will contribute to the collective efforts of conserving the environment as well as the conservancies and communities in the rural areas at an event held in Windhoek on Thursday.

Tuesday, 11 February 2020
African Ietermagog goes to China by the tonnes-load.

A critically endangered Namibian mammal is receiving international attention with the release this week of an investigative report detailing the ongoing largescale tracking in this group of species. The eight species of pangolins or scaly anteaters are found across Africa, the middle East and South Asia. All eight species are widely pouched for their scales, believed by superstitious Orientals to have medicinal value. In fact, the scales are just compressed hair meaning they consist of keratin.

Saturday, 8 February 2020
2020. New timber harvesting activities will remain prohibited - Ministry.

The Ministry of Environment Forestry and Tourism with immediate effect will issue transport permits for already harvested timber destined for the local market, an official announced Thursday. The Minister of Environment Forestry and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta at a media briefing Thursday said no export permits will be issued for unprocessed or semi-processed timber.

Friday, 7 February 2020
2020. Nampol officers trained in cybercrime, wildlife trafficking.

The US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) in partnership with the US Department of State, conducted a successful Wildlife Trafficking Cybercrime Training Programme (WTCP) in Windhoek, Namibia. The purpose of the training, which took place during January 27-31, 2020, was to strengthen global law enforcement relationships through the sharing of information related to the collection-preservation-examinationinvestigation of digital evidence in order to enhance the ability to combat worldwide illegal wildlife trafficking.

Thursday, 6 February 2020
Denker H 2020. The plight of the Namibian pangolin.

Between 1 January and 31 December 2019, 155 suspects were arrested for being found in possession of pangolins or their parts, attempting to trade these, or aiding and abetting those charged with possession or trafficking. During the same year, law enforcement officers in Namibia confiscated 121 pangolins. About 60% of the pangolins were dead. Most of the animals seized alive could be rehabilitated and released back into the wild.

Thursday, 6 February 2020
Smit E 2020. Poaching declines, arrests increase (Namibia).

Over the past ve years, there has been an overall decline in rhino and elephant poaching, with a major increase in arrests. This was shared yesterday by environment minister Pohamba Shifeta during his 2020 opening speech. Last year, a total of 45 rhinos were poached in comparison to 74 in 2018 and 55 in 2017. In 2016, 61 rhinos were poached, and 97 in 2015. According to Shifeta, two rhinos have been poached to date this year. As for elephants, 12 were poached last year, 27 in 2018 and 50 in 2017. In 2016, a total of 101 elephants were poached and 49 in 2015.

Tuesday, 4 February 2020
2020. South African national parks declare war on poachers.

South Africa is escalating the fight against poaching using different means and collaborating with other countries in the midst of increased activity by illegal hunters, said South African National Parks (SANParks) on Tuesday.

Friday, 16 August 2019
Terblanché N 2019. Rhino horn theft cause for serious concern.

The Ministry of Environment and Tourism have mobilised all available resources to collaborate with the Namibian Police in tracing the 34 rhino horns that was stolen from a house in Outjo during a burglary.
According to the MET’s Director of Wildlife and National Parks, Colgar Sikopo, the incident is a cause of serious concern for the ministry as the custodial authority because of the reputational damage the incident caused to Namibia as a responsible manager of wildlife and other natural resources.

Thursday, 15 August 2019
Steynberg F, Springer M 2019. Farmer suffers millions loss .

The owner of a game farm in the Outjo district has suffered millions in the weekend after burglars stole 34 rhinoceros horns, cash of unknown value, jewels, cell phones and three weapons from a vault in his home.

Thursday, 15 August 2019
Kooper L 2019. Man nabbed for possession of elephant tusk, rhino horn .

A 31-Year-old Zambian man was arrested yesterday arrested at Mukuyu village after he was found in possession of one elephant tusk and a rhino horn.

Thursday, 15 August 2019
Mogotsi K 2019. Police arrest 118 for drug possession .

Meanwhile, the police have arrested 19 suspects in connection with wildlife crimes, and seized eight wildlife products since the start of August. According to a wildlife crime statistics report for this month issued by the Protected Resources Division of the Namibian Police yesterday, the wildlife products seized include four oryx carcasses, two live pangolins, a pangolin skin and a duiker.

Thursday, 15 August 2019
2019. Renoster in Etosha gestamp.

'n Renoster is laat gister teen skemertyd in die Etosha Nasionale Park deur 'n voertuig gestamp.
Die hoofwoordvoerder van die Namibiese polisie, adj.komm. Edwin Kanguatjivi, het die voorval bevestig en gesê die renoster moes deur 'n veearts uitgesit word. Hy het gesê die voorval het in die noordelike deel van die park plaasgevind en die voertuig is deur 'n beampte van die ministerie van die omgewing en toerisme bestuur. "Die polisie is besig om die saak te ondersoek of die bestuurder nalatig bestuur het of nie," het Kanguatjivi gesê.

Thursday, 15 August 2019
2019. Rhino horns and goods worth N$100 million looted.

Goods, among them rhino horns with a combined value of N$100 million, were stolen from a house in Outjo while the owner was away over the weekend. 

Thursday, 15 August 2019
2019. Zambiër vas met renosterhoring, ivoor.

'n Zambiese man is gister in Malengalenga in die Zambezistreer met een renosterhoring en een olifanttand deur die Nambiese polisie in hegtenis geneem.

Thursday, 15 August 2019
Terblanché N 2019. Theft of 34 rhino horns will damage Namibia's reputation.

THE protection and management Namibian wildlife and products derived from it will suffer immeasurable damage after 34 rhino horns and millions in local and foreign currency with a total value of N$100 million was stolen on an unguarded hunting farm in the district of Outjo over the weekend. One of the most comprehensive investigations were launched by the Inspector General of the Namibian Police, Lieutenant General Sebastian Ndeitunga, into the theft and especially the circumstances surrounding the theft while the police legal department on the instruction of the general…

Thursday, 15 August 2019
2015. 48 rhino poaching suspects arrested since June: NamPol.

The Namibian Police Force (NamPol)'s Anti-Poaching Unit has since June this year arrested 48 people for alleged rhinoceros poaching crimes. Furthermore, about 22 of those arrested have appeared in the Okahao Magistrate's Court in Omusati Region during the month of July this year, while an unspecified small number of suspects were released, pending further police investigations into their cases.

Wednesday, 14 August 2019
Smit E 2019. Cites concerned about poaching: Inconsistencies in exporting of Namibian rhino trophies.

A report that will be up for discussion at this week's World Wildlife Conference highlights inconsistencies in the exporting of rhino trophies from Namibia and says that 295 rhinos have been poached in Namibia between 2009 and 2018. It says the 44 rhinos that were poached in 2017 represented 1.5% of Namibia's rhino population. The 183 Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) will adopt decisions and resolutions to expand and further strengthen the global wildlife trade regime at to be considered at the 18th…

Wednesday, 14 August 2019
2019. Employee of electricity company among four arrested for possession of rhino horns.

A 33-year-old employee of an electricity company is one of four men arrested at Otjiwarongo on Monday with rhino horns that had been freshly sawed off.

Wednesday, 14 August 2019
Steynberg F 2019. 19 vas oor wildmisdaad.

Volgens statistieke wat deur die polisie-eenheid vir beskermde hulpbronne en die ministerie van die omgewing en toerisme se eenheid vir intelligensie en ondersoeke vir wildmisdaad in Augustus saamgestel is, is twee verdagtes in verband met renosterstropery of -horingsmokkelary of pogings daartoe in hegtenis geneem. 

Wednesday, 14 August 2019
Steynberg F 2019. 34 renosterhorings uit boer se kluis gesteel.

'n Boer (58) van 'n wildsplaas in die Outjo-distrik is die naweek van 34 renosterhorings, kontant in Amerikaanse en Nambiiese dollars, euros, rand, twee trouringe en drie vuurwapens ter waarde van sowat N$100 miljoen beroof.

Tuesday, 13 August 2019
Smit E 2019. 19 arrested for wildlife crime.

A total of 19 suspects were arrested for wildlife crimes during August with six new cases that were registered this month. This is according to wildlife crime statistics compiled by the Intelligence and Investigation Unit in the environment ministry and the Protected Resources Division in the Namibian Police. Statistics show that out of the 19 suspects arrested, two suspects were arrested for rhino poaching and or trafficking crimes (including cases of conspiracy of rhino poaching).

Tuesday, 13 August 2019
Smit E 2019. 19 arrested for wildlife crime.

A total of 19 suspects were arrested for wildlife crimes during August with six new cases that were registered this month. This is according to wildlife crime statistics compiled by the Intelligence and Investigation Unit in the environment ministry and the Protected Resources Division in the Namibian Police. Statistics show that out of the 19 suspects arrested, two suspects were arrested for rhino poaching and or trafficking crimes (including cases of conspiracy of rhino poaching). Furthermore wildlife products that were seized included two live pangolin, one…

Monday, 12 August 2019
2019. Ten in illegal hunting case at Kalkfeld appear in court .

The 10 people charged with illegal hunting and possession of game meat at Kalkfeld settlement, made their first court appearance on Monday in the Otjiwarongo Magistrate's Court.

Sunday, 11 August 2019
2019. Group arrested for illegal hunting at Kalkfeld.

Ten suspects between the ages of 16 and 33 years were on Friday arrested at Kalkfeld settlement in the Otjiwarongo constituency on charges of illegal hunting and possession of game meat without a valid permit.

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