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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.

Explore your search results using the filter checkboxes, or amend your search or start a new search.

Displaying results 1 - 50 of 88
Sunday, 30 January 2022
2022. Malawi: Police arrest six men for illegal pangolin possession.

Rumphi Police in north Malawi have arrested six for illegal possession of a live pangolin.

Friday, 28 January 2022
Mongudhi T 2022. Doctor accused of wildlife crime gets N$100 000 bail.

Windhoek doctor Daniel Jordaan, who is accused of illegally possessing leopards, cheetahs and baboons at his farm, was granted bail of N$100 000 yesterday.

Friday, 28 January 2022
Wangui P 2022. Two suspected poachers arrested, 14 pieces of ivory recovered.

Two suspected poachers were on Thursday arrested in Korinda junction in Busia county. Police acted on a tip-off from members of the public and nabbed the two men, 60-year-old Mohamed Abbas and a 70-year-old Paul Wafula Njoka. The suspects were using a motorbike with registration number KMEV721N in their operation. The police recovered the haul after conducting a search. They took them as exhibits together with the motorbike. The two suspects were taken to Busia Police station as they wait to be arraigned to answer to charges.

Wednesday, 26 January 2022
2022. Pangolin skins land pair in jail.

Two Bulawayo men have been slapped with a nine-year jail term each for illegal possession of pangolin skins.

Wednesday, 26 January 2022
2022. Three years on from Uganda's 2019 ivory and pangolin scale seizure, there's still no sight of justice.

Three years ago this month, the Ugandan authorities seized a significant quantity of elephant ivory and pangolin scales en-route to Vietnam through Kenya. Acting on intelligence, the Ugandan Revenue Authority (URA) conducted a law enforcement operation targeting a Vietnamese wildlife trafficking network. It seized 3,299kg of elephant ivory - the largest ivory seizure in Uganda to date - and 424kg of pangolin scales.

Wednesday, 26 January 2022
Atkinson E 2022. Pangolin kidnapped and held to ransom in Congo amid fears of 'new trend' in wildlife crime.

An endangered pangolin has been taken hostage by a group of rebels in the the Democratic Republic of Congo who sent a ransom request to conservationists for the animal’s release. It sparks fears that the kidnap could lead to a trend in using wildlife as bargaining power, the activists negotiating with the kidnappers are attempting to rescue the pangolin without payment. "This is something new and alarming," Adams Cassinga, founder of Conserv Congo, said after "proof of life" photographs of the prized animal were sent to community conservationists.

Tuesday, 25 January 2022
2022. Poachers in gun battle with police at farm.

Three youths had a running battle with three policemen who attempted to arrest them for poaching, Bulawayo Regional Court was told yesterday.

Tuesday, 25 January 2022
Kriel H, Pinnock D 2022. Beyond its exceptional beauty, Kruger National Park is on the ropes and hurting.

The Kruger National Park has a major rhino-poaching crisis, but that's just one of many mounting problems - and it's extremely worrying.

Monday, 24 January 2022
2022. Ivory, rhino horns, pangolin and tiger parts seized in transit from Africa to Asia.

Singapore - An eight-week INTERPOL operation against wildlife crime and trafficking resulted in arrests and seizures across Asia and Africa. Codenamed Golden Strike, the operation - which ended late last year - targeted the criminals and networks smuggling wildlife protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) from Africa to Asia.

Sunday, 23 January 2022
Mongudhi T 2022. Windhoek doctor arrested on wildlife charges.

A Windhoek-based medical doctor, Daniel (Danie) Jordaan, was arrested at his farm in the Okahandja area on Thursday last week in connection with allegations that he iskeeping wild animals in captivity without the required permits. Jordaan's arrest follows on a joint investigation of the Namibian Police and the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism. The Namibia n has learned that the authorities where tipped off that Jordaan was involved in alleged illegal hunting, keeping wild animals without permits and transportingwild animals without…

Thursday, 20 January 2022
2022. Kruger rhino poaching update: 75% population reduction in 10 years.

Despite back-breaking work from a dedicated and passionate SANParks team, Kruger National Park rhino populations have continued to plummet - as per the latest population count from 2020. Recently published research estimates that there are about 2,607 white rhinos remaining in the Kruger National Park, while black rhinos are estimated to number just 202. This represents a population decline of 75% for white rhinos since 2011 (from 10,621) and 51% for black rhino since 2013 (from 415).

Wednesday, 19 January 2022
Williams C 2022. Mozambique court sentences poaching boss to 30 years.

A court in Mozambique has sentenced the leader of a poaching gang to 30 years in prison on Wednesday. The man was convicted of the crimes of poaching, illegal possession of weapons and association to commit offences, the ministry said in a statement, noting that he had also been sentenced to pay a fine of 1 percent of minimum wage for 28 years, news website Club of Mozambique wrote. The accused was arrested on May 3, 2021, "when he was returning from an attempt to hunt rhinoceros for the second time illegally", authorities said.

Wednesday, 19 January 2022
Langa L 2022. Spike in snare trap placements leading to growing number of wildlife deaths in KZN.

Anti-poaching groups have blamed socio-economic problems for the rise in poaching and snaring in various protected areas such as game reserves. Speaking after a recent sweep of snares at Tala Collection Game Reserve, located between Easton and Camperdown in KwaZulu-Natal, Lawrence Reed, founder of Rave Rhino and Wildlife Project on Sunday, 16 January, said they had seen an increase in the number of snares being discovered at the game reserve.

Wednesday, 19 January 2022
2022. Five sentenced to five years for bushmeat in Mumbwa.

The Subordinate Court in Mumbwa has sentenced five men to five years imprisonment with hard labour after they pled guilty to illegal possession of 88kg of bushmeat poached from Blue Lagoon national park in Kafue District.

Tuesday, 18 January 2022
2022. Kort nuus uit misdaadverslag.

Twee mans is Vrydag op Oshikango in die Ohangwenastreek tydens ’n polisiesoektog met een droë ietermagovel ter waarde van sowat N$50 000 vasgetrek.

Two men were caught on Friday in Oshikango in the Ohangwena region during a police search with one dry pangolin skin worth about N $ 50 000.

Tuesday, 18 January 2022
2022. 4 more arrested in crackdown on poaching.

Police in Chiredzi have arrested four suspected poachers and recovered five impala carcasses worth over
US$5 000 as they intensify their crackdown on poachers countrywide.

Monday, 17 January 2022
Francke R-L 2022. Five arrested for possession of protected plants worth R600 000.

Cape Town - Police in the Northern Cape have arrested five suspects for the possession of protected plants worth over R600 000. According to the provincial police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Sergio Kock, offcers attached to the Springbok Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit, Springbok K9 unit and the Springbok Highway Patrol arrested five male suspects along the N14 highway near Springbok on Thursday.

Tuesday, 11 January 2022
2022. Wildlife vet says it's rhino "murder" not poaching.

Rhino poaching in South Africa is at a critical level despite a "deafening" silence from official government communications and mainstream media, one of southern Africa’s most dedicated and respected wildlife vets Dr Dave Cooper maintains. Referring to the violent killing of rhino as "murders" rather than the mild, mundane "poaching", he issued a massive cry for action before it's too late, begging the world to wake up, see and stop what is happening in South Africa, according to Rhino Review. His plea comes days after witnessing possibly the "worst…

Tuesday, 11 January 2022
Mashonaland VM 2022. Treetop Security offcial arrested for poaching.

Police in Mashonaland East Province have arrested three suspects for poaching in Eldorado farm in Macheke.

Monday, 10 January 2022
Francke R-L 2022. Nine Northern Cape suspects bust in Cape Town for possession of protected plants.

Cape Town - Nine suspects are expected to appear in the Goodwood Magistrate's Court soon after they were found to be in possession of protected plants. According to the Northern Cape's provincial police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Sergio Kock, police members from the Springbok and Kuilsriver Stock Theft and Endangered Species Units (STESU) successfully conducted a joint buy and bust operation.

Tuesday, 4 January 2022
2022. 'Loved to death': Poaching for the horticultural market threatens cycads in South Africa.

Cycads, an ancient group of plants dating from the time of the dinosaurs, are threatened globally by extinction. The plants are also coveted by collectors, especially rarer specimens. In South Africa, a hotspot of cycad diversity, this demand has given rise to a harmful illicit market that has placed dozens of species at risk. Thousands of cycads have been dug up from the wild, with poachers using a legal cycad market to launder their harvests.

Saturday, 30 May 2020
Saunders J 2020. Outrage as South Africa law change could put elephants and giraffes on dinner table.

South Africa is deliberating over a radical review of their Meat Safety Act that wildlife activists fear could "pave the way" for elephants, rhinos, giraffes and every animal listed for human consumption.

Friday, 29 May 2020
2020. Wilderer erlegen zwei Nashörner nahe Gobabis.

Im Zuge der Ermittlungen in einem Fall der Nashornwilderei wurden in dieser Woche acht Verdächtigte festgenommen. Den Beschuldigten werden unerlaubte Jagd geschützter Wildtiere, illegaler Handel mit Nasenhörnern und Verstöße gegen das Waffengesetz vorgeworfen. Vier der Tatverdächtigen wurden gestern in Otjiwarongo dem Haftrichter vorgeführt und bleiben nach Aussage des Umweltministeriums vorerst in Untersuchungshaft. Heute sollen jeweils zwei weitere Verdächtige in Gobabis und Windhoek im Magistratsgericht erscheinen.

Friday, 29 May 2020
Smit E 2020. Poaching suspects appear in camera.

Four of the eight suspects arrested in connection with the alleged poaching of two rhino horns near Gobabis appeared in the Otjiwarongo Regional Court in camera yesterday.

Friday, 29 May 2020
Steynberg F 2020. Vier 'renosterstropers' verskyn in camera.

Die oorblywende vier verdagtes sal vandag hul verskyning in howe op Gobabis en in Windhoek maak. Vier van die agt verdagtes wat vandeesweek in verband met renosterstropery en -horingsmokkelary vasgetrek is, het gister in camera in die streekshof op Otjiwarongo verskyn.

Four of the eight suspects arrested this week in connection with rhino poaching and hornet smuggling appeared in camera in the Otjiwarongo regional court on Thursday.

Friday, 29 May 2020
Zincume M 2020. Two nabbed in Mtubatuba with elephant tusks (South Africa).

Vigilant Mtubatuba police officers arrested two suspects in Khula Village, near St Lucia, for being in possession of elephant tusks.

Friday, 29 May 2020
Nakale A 2020. Fishing expedition stumbles on elephant tusks.

Fishermen on a fishing expedition stumbled upon a bag containing four elephant tusks hidden in shallow waters between Ondangwa and Ongwediva over the long Africa Day weekend. A group of village boys between Opoto and Shipepe locations near Ongwediva were fishing in the water channel near the road when they made the elephant tusks discovery.

Friday, 29 May 2020
2020. Four armed poachers nabbed at Tugela South.

The carcasses of bushbuck and porcupines, together with a shotgun, a pistol and ammunition, were found in the possession of three men and a fourth driving a Toyota Fortuner, on a farm on the south bank of the Tugela River in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Thursday, 28 May 2020
Terblanché N 2020. Prophet and policeman arrested for poaching.

Jackson Babi, a well-known Prophet along with a police officer attached to the Very Important Persons Protection Directorate was amongst seven suspects arrested on Monday for poaching and trading in wildlife contraband. Lightning quick investigative work by members of the Protected Resources Division of the Namibian Police saw the arrest of the seven suspects on the same day that a farm worker discovered the carcasses of two illegally hunted rhinos on a farm in the Gobabis district.

Thursday, 28 May 2020
Steynberg F 2020. 8 vas oor renosterstropery.

Agt vermeende renosterstropers en -horingsmokkelaars is oor twee dae vasgetrek. Volgens die hoof van die Blue Rhino-taakspan, komm. Barry de Klerk, is twee renosterkarkasse Dinsdag op 'n plaas in die Gobabis-distrik ontdek.

Thursday, 28 May 2020
2020. Kampf gegen Wilderei: USA spenden zwei Allradwagen.

Das US-Verteidigungsministerium hat vergangene Woche zwei Geländefahrzeuge an das namibische Umweltministerium (MEFT) gespendet. Einer der beiden Toyota Land Cruiser soll von dem Polizeischulungszentrum am Waterberg verwendet werden. Der andere Land Cruiser ist für Einsätze der Antiwilderei-Hundeeinheit im Kampf gegen organisierte Umweltverbrechen vorgesehen.

Thursday, 28 May 2020
2020. Two poachers shot dead in Botswana.

The Botswana Defence Force (BDF) has reported death of two poachers killed in an anti-poaching incident in the Okavango Delta, bringing the number of poachers killed in the Southern Africa country to seven this year.

Wednesday, 27 May 2020
Ncube L 2020. Footie star arrested over elephant tusks.

Football Club player Craven Banda has been arrested after he was allegedly found with eight raw elephant tusks.

Wednesday, 27 May 2020
2020. 'Co-innovation' can save rhinos.

How technology, innovation and partnership are changing the fate of Africa's threatened megafauna.

Wednesday, 27 May 2020
2020. Two Land Cruisers donated by the American Defence Force help combat wildlife crime.

Poachers beware, local wildlife law enforcement has just taken a big leap with the acquisition of two Land Cruiser bakkies, courtesy of the American army, to bolster existing anti-poaching measures. The two bakkies were presented to conservation officials in the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism by Lieutenant Colonel John Lacy, the United States Defence Attaché in Namibia. The vehicles were donated by the US Department of Defence as part of the US Foreign Military financing programme for biodiversity.

Wednesday, 27 May 2020
Ngcobo N 2020. KZN poaching drops since virus lockdown.

KZN Ezemvelo Wildlife says they have seen a decrease in poaching since the start of the national lockdown. But the conservation body says they remain on high alert as poachers continue to operate in the province. Last week, a suspect was arrested in Mtubatuba, North of KZN for the illegal possession and sale of elephant ivory in the KwaMsane Township.

Tuesday, 26 May 2020
Mmana FB 2020. Was it poaching or self defence?.

North West District Council Chairperson, Kebareeditse Ntsogotlho is likely to face a poaching charge after being discharged from hospital, The Voice has learnt. Ntsogotlho was recently attacked and injured by a buffalo in his home area, Khwai during an alleged incident of illegal hunting and killing of a protected wild animal. He is currently nursing thigh wounds at Nyangabwe referral hospital in Francistown.

Monday, 25 May 2020
Tshikalange S 2020. Sixteen to appear in court for hunting springbok with dogs and knives.

Sixteen suspects who were arrested will appear in the Hofmeyr magistrate's court on Tuesday to face a charge of illegal hunting. The 16 suspects, who range between the ages of 23 and 48 years, were arrested on Sunday for illegal hunting on the farm Gruisheuwel, in the Hofmeyr district.

Monday, 25 May 2020
2020. MEC Nomusa Dube-Ncube on arrest of suspect with elephant tusk.

Statement by the MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Nomusa Dube-Ncube on the arrest of a suspect with elephant tusk valued at R150 000.

Monday, 25 May 2020
Munhende L 2020. Spike in wildlife poaching as poachers take advantage of lockdown laxities.

Zimbabwe has realised a spike in wildlife poaching as the wildlife management authority has redirected efforts towards combating the spread of Covid-19 during the current lockdown period, a top lobby has said.

Monday, 25 May 2020
Wiltshire J, Macdonald IAW 2020. Why are rhinos important for ecosystems?.

Most people understand that the poaching of rhinos is cruel and could, quite possibly, drive rhinos to extinction. But why the inordinate fuss about rhinos? Are they special enough from an ecological point of view, that ecosystems need them to be around? Of course, no species should go extinct due to man, and rhinos are iconic symbols and tourism draw-cards.

Monday, 25 May 2020
2020. Statistical models and ranger insights help identify patterns in elephant poaching.

The illegal wildlife trade is one of the highest value illicit trade sectors globally, threatening both human well-being and biodiversity. A prominent example is ivory poaching, leading to an estimated 30% decline in African elephant populations between 2007 and 2014 and costing African states an estimated US$25 million annually in lost tourism revenues.

Friday, 22 May 2020
David R 2020. Drop in recorded wildlife crime.

Between 11 and 17 May, only one new case of wildlife crime was registered with four suspects arrested and charged, according to the latest wildlife crime statistics compiled by the Intelligence and Investigation Unit within the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism and Protected Resources. Two of the suspects were arrested on rhino poaching/trafficking, including conspiracy of rhino poaching. One springbok horn was seized.

Thursday, 21 May 2020
2020. Internasionale Biodiversiteitdag môre herdenk.

Internasionale Biodiversiteitdag word jaarliks op 22 Mei volgens die Verenigde Nasies se Konvensie oor Biologiese Diversiteit (UNCBD) herdenk.

International Biodiversity Day is commemorated annually on May 22, according to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD).

Thursday, 21 May 2020
2020. Extension granted for submissions on work relevant to the panel reviewing lion, rhino, elephant and leopard management practices (South Africa).

An extension of two weeks has been granted to the public to make submissions on the work of the high-level panel established to review policies, legislation and related practices on the management, breeding, hunting, trade and handling of elephant, lion, leopard and rhinoceros.

Wednesday, 20 May 2020
2020. Ex-cop jailed for killing rhino.

A retired police officer, a former scout and a Zambian national have been jailed for nine years for killing a black rhinoceros in Bubye Valley Conservancy near Beitbridge last year.

Wednesday, 20 May 2020
2020. Dearth of tourists not only detrimental to private sector, also impedes conservation.

While the rest of the country has been locked down for a considerable time, the rangers and game guards who protect Namibia’s wildlife could not drop their vigilance for a day.

Wednesday, 20 May 2020
Kaelo D, Sopia D, Bell D, Diggle R, Nelson F 2020. From crisis to solutions for communities and African conservation (commentary).

The coronavirus (covid-19) pandemic has created a profound crisis for conservation efforts in eastern and southern Africa as a result of the sudden cessation of all international travel in a region where nature-based tourism and conservation are closely interdependent.  The region’s unique wildlife populations and other natural assets — centered on spectacular landscapes such as the Serengeti and Okavango — underpin a multi-billion dollar 'wildlife…

Tuesday, 19 May 2020
Smithers D 2020. How one woman escaped her violent marriage to join the world’s First All-Female Anti-Poaching Force.

Nyaradzo Hoto was just 20 when, with no money and nowhere to go, she was forced to drop out of school and get married. Over the next two years, she suffered at the hands of her violent husband; enslaved by his family, forced into hard labour, and used as a punch bag during his drunken fits of rage. But while she feared she may never escape her 'prison', Nyaradzo told LADbible how she gained the courage to find her voice and is now part of an elite squad in Zimbabwe, fighting to protect the world’s most endangered animals from extinction.

Tuesday, 19 May 2020
2020. Poachers in Cape Town taking advantage of Covid-19 lockdown.

Conservationists' fears that poachers have been taking advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic to roam and
hunt for endangered species have been confirmed after two recent sting operations by CapeNature and the SAPS stock theft unit led to arrests. Poachers were caught in illegal possession of an estimated 11000 endangered succulent plants destined for the illegal plant trade.

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