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.
Police in Mangochi have arrested a 50-year old man for possession of nine pieces of ivory.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
MAL_2022_07_Man nabbed for possessing Ivory_Malawi24.pdf | 408.87 KB |
A zebra and its foal have been found dead, caught in the grip of a snare in the Bisley Nature Reserve.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
SA_2022_07_Snare kills mother zebra and foal at Bisley Nature Reserve_TheWitness.pdf | 474.99 KB |
"This award to the ranger team has come despite operating in the face of adversity, with the results of a positive growth population of rhino." "Under the protection of ATS, the rhino population in Save Valley Conservancy has seen a biological growth rate of 7%, this is above the 5% IUCN recommendation for game reserves protecting rhino, and maintained a poaching mortality rate of below 2%, also IUCN recommended," the WCPA statement read.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
ZIM_2022_07_Zim anti_poaching unit receives award_NewsDay.pdf | 481.69 KB |
Boere het gister by die landdroshof op Karibib saamgekom om te probeer verhoed dat borgtog aan vermeende vee- en wildstropers toegestaan word. Dit volg nadat daar in die week tussen volmaan en 21 Julie beeste ter waarde van N$135 000, gemsbokke van N$60 000 en sebras van N$9 000 in die omgewing van Otjiwarongo, Karibib en Omaruru gesteel is.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2022_07_Honderde duisende se vee_wild gestroop_Republikein.pdf | 472.42 KB |
NAM_2022-07_Hundreds of thousands of cattle_game poached_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 628.17 KB |
Am gestrigen Montag versammelten sich Farmer vor dem Magistratsgericht von Karibib, um zu verhindern, dass mutmaßliche Wilderer auf Kaution freigelassen werden. Dies geschah, nachdem in der Woche zwischen Vollmond und dem 21. Juli in der Gegend von Otjiwarongo, Karibib und Omaruru Rinder im Wert von 135 000 N$, Gemsböcke im Wert von 60 000 N$ und Zebras im Wert von 9 000 N$ gestohlen worden waren. Darüber hinaus mussten die Farmer rund 22 000 N$ für Treibstoff, Wachen und Anti-Wilderer-Einheiten bezahlen.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2022_07_Wilderei nimmt kein Ende_Allgemeine Zeitung.pdf | 536.41 KB |
NAM_2022_07_Poaching never ends_Allgemeine Zeitung_Eng.pdf | 438.1 KB |
Kigali: For many years, East African countries were considered wildlife trafficking hotspots. Now conservation organisations have started to mobilise all stakeholders to combat the illegal trade that targets animals – some to the edge of extinction.
The Nigeria Customs Services (NCS) yesterday brought seven men before the Federal High Court in Lagos for alleged illegal possession dealing, assembling, storing, smuggling and trading in pangolin skin and elephant's ivory.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NIG_2022_07_Three Foreigners Arraigned Over Pangolin_Tusk Smuggling_Journal of African Elephants.pdf | 120.91 KB |
Two men have been arrested in Bulawayo after they were found in possession of 20,5 kilogrammes of elephant tusks.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
ZIM_2022_07_Zimbabwean_foreigner nabbed over elephant tusks_The Sunday Mail.pdf | 223.64 KB |
The Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism (MEFT) recently announced the confiscation of 75 wood planks that are believed to have been illegally harvested in the Kavango region area after a tip-off from the public, an official said this week. All harvesting of trees and wood, anywhere in Namibia, is governed by the Forest Act and its Regulations. "The planks are believed to have been illegally harvested from farms that are in Ncamagoro in the Kavango West Region," MEFT spokesperson, Romeo Muyunda said in a statement.
A Namibian and a Chinese national were arrested in Okahandja on Saturday after they were found in possession of 27 protected plant species. The confiscated items included four Elephant's foot plants, 15 Cyphostemma, eight Commiphora, in addition to five plastic bags containing Welwitchia seeds and 12 bags filled with a variety of unidentified seeds. The suspects were arrested after ministry officials followed up on video footage they had obtained, showing two persons collecting the protected plants, reportedly around Usakos.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2022_07_Two arrested for possession of protected plants_Namibian Sun.pdf | 681.71 KB |
Last week, the People's Court of Hanoi, Vietnam, sentenced three women and one man to a collective 18 years imprisonment for the illegal transportation and trade of 984kg of pangolin scales, one of the largest cases of wildlife trading investigated in Vietnam's history.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
SA_2022_07_LOOK_ Smugglers jailed for trading nearly one tonne of pangolin scales_IOL.pdf | 1.27 MB |
Facts before court were that on 1 April 2022 the duo whilst acting together possessed a prescribed trophy namely elephant ivory weighing 25 KG and valued at K 90,467 without a certificate of ownership issued by the Director General the Zambia Wildlife Authority.
In einer weiteren gemeinsamen Operation von Beamten des Umweltministeriums, Spezialkräften und der Abteilung für geschützte Ressourcen der namibischen Polizei, wurde ein Verdächtiger in der Sambesi-Region festgenommen, nachdem er im Besitz von drei Elefantenstoßzähnen angetroffen wurde. Er bot die Stoßzähne einem verdeckten Ermittler zum Verkauf an. Der 33 Jahre alte Verdächtige wurde am 14. Juli in Katima Mulilo verhaftet. Die drei Elefantenstoßzähne waren laut des Berichts des Umweltministeriums in 13 Stücke geschnitten.
Three suspects were arrested for poaching at Tala Game Reserve, outside Pietermaritzburg, after police and a private security company responded to the scene. The three suspects were found with a waterbuck carcass on Saturday.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
SA_2022_07_Three suspects arrested for poaching at Tala Game Reserve_IOL.pdf | 234.09 KB |
Two men were on Saturday arrested after being found in possession of protected plant species at Okahandja.
The duo, a Namibian and Chinese national were found with four Adenia pechuelii (elephant foot) plants; 15xCyphostema plants; eight Commphoras plants; five plastics containing Welwitschia seeds and 12x plastics with differentunidentified seeds. Ministry of Environment spokesperson Romeo Muyunda stated that this came after Ministry officials followed up on avideo in which the two suspects were seen collecting protected plants reportedly in the area of Usakos.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2022_07_Two arrested for protected plants species_Informante.pdf | 59.46 KB |
Field rangers at the Tygerberg Nature Reserve managed to apprehend poachers who were illegally removing bulbs and indigenous plants from one of the hiking trails. On Tuesday, 12 July 2022, the Tygerberg Nature Reserve staff were alerted by a visitor to three individuals who seemed to be removing plants from one of the hiking trails.
South Africa, with its abundant wildlife, suffers from a scourge of poaching that has become a significant challenge in the country's national parks. In particular, the poaching of rhinos for their horns has increased dramatically since 2014, so SA National Parks (SANParks) sought out a system that could enable it to successfully counter this: one that could detect movement - specifically of people - in protected areas.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
SA_2022_07_A Meerkat that prevents poaching in the Kruger Park_ITWeb.pdf | 588.33 KB |
The man, who was arrested on Friday (July 8), will face charges of rhino poaching, the possession of rhino horns and the illegal possession of a firearm. Police spokesperson Motlafela Mojapelo explained in a statement that the man is one of three men suspected of rhino poaching near Gravelotte.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
SA_2022_07_Rhino poacher nabbed near Gravelotte_Reviewonline.pdf | 488.51 KB |
The environment ministry today released a statement confirming the arrest of 11 suspected poachers during the course of four law enforcement operations undertaken close to the world renowned Etosha National Park since June. Environment ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda today said the arrests, and confiscation of vehicles, cash and weapons, were the result of joint law and intelligence operations, following the discovery of 11 rhino carcasses at Etosha in June. The rhinos were all killed during poaching incidents.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2022_07_Eleven suspected Etosha poachers behind bars_Namibian Sun.pdf | 675.9 KB |
Three men who had allegedly poached the four rhinos and were able to dehorn three of them, appeared in the Bushbuckridge Magistrate's Court on Monday July 4.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
SA_2022_07_Four Kruger rhinos killed_three dehorned_Lowvelder.pdf | 410.63 KB |
A special court established in Uganda, called the Standards, Utilities and Wildlife Court, was "critical to the country's economic development", then Chief Justice Bart Katureebe noted at its launch in 2017. "Access to justice in this area has the capacity to promote investment in critical areas of the economy, protection of the environment, public health and ethical trade practices," he said. Between July 2020 and June 2021, the court handled 468 wildlife crime cases.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
UGA_2022_07_Ugandas special court clamps down on wildlife crime_Oxpeckers.pdf | 1021.64 KB |
Uitkoms - As the population of Farm Uitkoms grows, crimes and social ills such as poaching, stock theft and drug and alcohol abuse are skyrocketing. Farm Uitkoms, housing mainly marginalised Namibians some 160km north-east of Okahandja, is seen as the epitome of self-sustainability in terms of government resettlement efforts. In 2008, retired veteran politician Dr Libertina Amathila, who at the time held the portfolio of Deputy Prime Minister, vigorously spearheaded a campaign that saw the marginalised San community resettled at this farm.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2022_07_Poaching rife around farm Uitkoms_New Era.pdf | 472.69 KB |
Three alleged poachers were arrested in the Kruger National Park after allegedly killing four rhinos on Friday July 1.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
SA_2022_07_Three alleged poachers arrested in the Kruger National Park_Lowvelder.pdf | 133.45 KB |
A tourist who heard gunshots in the Kruger National Park helped rangers arrest three suspected poachers after they allegedly killed and dehorned rhinos.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
SA_2022_07_Tourist helps nab alleged rhino poachers in the Kruger National Park_TimesLive.pdf | 421.17 KB |
Tanzanian wildlife authorities on Saturday warned poachers to stop the malpractice before they faced the full force of the law.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
TAN_2022_07_Tanzania warns poachers to stop malpractice_News Ghana.pdf | 160.19 KB |
The Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta, has called on members of conservancies to refrain from poaching and misuse of funds. Furthermore, he stated the ministry has unearthed a possible syndicate of poaching, involving conservancy members.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2022_07_Minister warns conservancy members against poaching_New Era.pdf | 411.41 KB |
One of the world’s most famous game reserves, Thula Thula in South Africa, has survived the Covid-19 pandemic without any loss of wild animal to poaching. Francoise Malby-Anthony, who runs the game reserve
said that she kept on all her anti-poaching staff throughout covid which prevented any animals being killed by poachers.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
SA-2020-06_COVID_19 elephant poaching_Journal of African Elephants.pdf | 3.03 MB |
Der Prozess gegen den der Nashorn-Wilderei beschuldigten Prediger Jackson Babi und dessen mutmaßlichen Komplizen Friza Dumeni, hat gestern eine Wendung genommen, als die Staatsanwaltschaft auch gegen einen Anhänger des selbsternannten Propheten formal Anklage erhoben hat.
The trial of preacher Jackson Babi, accused of poaching rhino and his alleged accomplice Friza Dumeni, took a turn yesterday when the prosecution also formally charged a supporter of the self-proclaimed prophet.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2020-06_Babi_Junger in Erklarungsnot_Allgemeine Zeitung.pdf | 338.26 KB |
NAM_2020-06_Babi disciples in need of explanation_Allgemeine Zeitung_Eng.pdf | 240.5 KB |
Die Namibiese polisie het verlede week op vyf olifanttande en een elk renosterhoring, ietermagôvel en ‘n voertuig beslag gelê.
Last week, Namibian police seized five elephant tusks and one rhinoceros horn, a pangolin skin and a vehicle.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2020-06_5 olifanttande 1 renosterhoring gekonfiskeer_Republikein.pdf | 311.84 KB |
NAM_2020-06_5 pieces of ivory and rhino horn confiscated_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 219.59 KB |
Die vermeende renosterstroper, pastoor Jackson Babi en een van sy kerkvolgelinge, mnr. Ananias Ananias, het vandag in die Windhoek-landdroshof op twee klagte van die oortreding van die teenkorrupsiewet verskyn.
The alleged rhino poacher, pastor Jackson Babi and one of his church followers, Mr. Ananias Ananias, appeared in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court today on two charges of violating the anti-corruption law.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2029-06_Babi volgeling van omkopery aangekla_Republikein.pdf | 309.47 KB |
NAM_2020-06_Babi follower charged with bribery-Republikein_Eng.pdf | 213.87 KB |
An attempt by Prophet Jackson Babi to bribe the detective investigating poaching charges against him to bear false testimony in court during his formal bail application, has caused the man of God to sink deeper into legal trouble. Besides an amount of N$13 000 in cash police officers searching the cells during the past weekend also found two mobile phones in the possession of the accused persons while they were incarcerated at the Windhoek Police Station which added even more charges to the accused persons’ charge sheets.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2020-06_Prophet appears on attempted bribery charge_Informante.pdf | 289.79 KB |
A ministerial panel is reviewing policies on international trade in rhino products. Any move to legalise this trade would be a disaster - for the remaining population of wild rhinos, for South Africa's tourism and for
impoverished people living near our wildlife reserves.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
SA_2020-06_Legalising rhino horn trade will be a disaster_DailyMaverick.pdf | 172.26 KB |
Twee Namibiese mans, Jimmy Habate Gawaseb en Friedriek Stuurman, is op 2 Junie in die Kamanjab-landdroshof skuldig bevind aan die onwettige jag van ‘n kameelperd in Augustus 2018.
Two Namibian men, Jimmy Habate Gawaseb and Friedriek Stuurman, were convicted in the Kamanjab Magistrate's Court on June 2 for illegally hunting a giraffe in August 2018.
While only two new cases of wildlife crimes were reported recently, eight suspects were arrested and charged. At Katima Mulilo, Roster Mazila Mukendwa was arrested on 14 June for the illegal hunting of protected game. He was found in possession of a duiker carcass and charged with contravening the Nature Conservation Ordinance Act. In a separate incident, Gerhard Iyambo was arrested on 17 June at Okahao in connection with an old case, dating back to February, regarding conspiring to hunt a rhino.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2020-06_Eight arrested for wildlife crimes_Namibian Sun.pdf | 282.91 KB |
Geen afname in olifantstropery in Afrika. Ondanks nuwe navorsing deur Elephants Without Borders (EWB) wat aandui olifantstropery in Afrika toon sedert 2011 geen afname nie, is slegs twee olifante tot dusver vanjaar in Namibië gestroop. Volgens die woordvoerder van die ministerie van die omgewing, bosbou en toerisme, mnr. Romeo Muyunda, is slegs twee olifante sover in 2020 in onderskeidelik die Zambezi- en Kunenestreek gestroop.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2020-06_Slegs twee olifante vanjaar gestroop_Republikein.pdf | 368.51 KB |
NAM_2020-06_Only two elephants were poached this year_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 367.22 KB |
The Rhino Files are periodic articles exploring the complexity of rhino conservation in Namibia.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2020-06_The Rhino Files_ Rhino conservation during a pandemic_The Namibian.pdf | 597.64 KB |
Vier Namibiese mans is verlede Donderdag by Karasburg in hegtenis geneem met glo een gemsbok- en drie koedoekarkasse in hul besit.
Four Namibian men were arrested last Thursday in Karasburg with one oryx and three kudu carcasses in their possession.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2020_06_Vier vas oor jag van koedoes_Republikein.pdf | 312.77 KB |
NAM_2020-06_Four arrested for hunting kudu_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 45.65 KB |
The regulatory measures apply to all sub-species of black rhino found in South Africa, including the Eastern black rhino, and the white rhino.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
SA_2020-06_Tighter provisions for domestic trade in rhino horn published_South Coast Herald.pdf | 822.76 KB |
Zimbabwe will not pull out of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in order to sell its stockpile of ivory tusks worth US$600 million, the Minister of Environment, Climate Change, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Mangaliso Ndlovu, has said.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
ZIM_2020-06_Zimbabwe wont pull out of CITES_Journal of African Elephants.pdf | 848.34 KB |
New research led by Elephants Without Borders (EWB) reveals that poaching of African elephants for their ivory has not decreased since 2011 in Western, Southern, and Central Africa. As a result, continued efforts to combat poaching will be necessary to save elephant populations. The new study was published June 23rd in Scientific Reports, in collaboration from researchers at the University of Washington and the Amboseli Trust for Elephants.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
BOT_2020-06_Elephant poaching is not decreasing in Africa_Journal of African Elephants.pdf | 99.31 KB |
A soldier was arrested after he was found in possession of a pangolin as he was looking for a buyer in Msasa,
Harare.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
ZIM_2020-06_A soldier was arrested after he was_NewsdzeZimbabwe.pdf | 154.4 KB |
A total of five wildlife products were seized: two oryx carcasses, a pangolin skin and two aardvark carcasses.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2020-06_Ten arrested for wildlife crimes_Namibian Sun.pdf | 283.7 KB |
The Covid-19 pandemic has led to a worldwide crisis of food insecurity and unemployment. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) warns of rising hunger and poverty. Commentators, particularly from the global North, have raised concerns about the implications for biodiversity. The first is that in some places, budgets for biodiversity conservation have been reduced due to a drastic drop in tourism revenue and the diversion of funds and forces to health-related functions. Secondly, growing poverty and the loss of livelihoods may drive people to poaching.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2020-06_Sustaining wild species is critical_The Namibian.pdf | 1.13 MB |
Botswana began removing the horns from its rhinos and moving them away from the iconic Okavango Delta as an unprecedented poaching crisis threatens their survival in the country. The government said that at least 56 of the animals had been killed by poachers in the past two years, marking the worst onslaught since Botswana’s black rhino population was wiped out in 1992 and the number of white rhinos dropped to just 27.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
BOT_2020-06_Botswana saws off horns to save rhinos from poachers_Citypress.pdf | 3.12 MB |
Umweltministerium setzt auf Nachhaltigkeit und bekämpft erfolgreich die Wilderei. Obwohl der Sektor als maßgebliches Wirtschaftsstandbein gehandelt wird, steht das Ministerium für Umwelt, Forstwirtschaft und Tourismus mit seinem Ausgabenplan im namibischen Haushalt für 2020-21 gerade Mal an 16. Stelle von insgesamt 33 Ausgabenposten. Der Minister verlässt sich indessen auf viel Hilfe aus Deutschland und von weiteren Entwicklungspartnern.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2020-06_Große Plaene mit wenig Geldmitteln_Allgemeine Zeitung.pdf | 368.36 KB |
NAM_2020-06_Big plans with little money_Allgemeine Zeitung_Eng.pdf | 265.53 KB |
Northern Cape-The Hawks Serious Organised Crime Investigation has resulted in the arrest of a 48-year-old suspect for allegedly trading in a pangolin. The suspect who originates from Botswana was arrested on Tuesday after information surfaced that he intended selling a pangolin that is an endangered species. A sting operation resulted in the suspect being arrested after he was found in possession of the said pangolin.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
SA_2020-06_Services_SAPS.pdf | 134.41 KB |
The Chama Subordinate Court has sentenced a poacher to seven years imprisonment for illegal possession of elephant ivory weighing 10 kilograms. Lovemore Nkhowani, 60, a former wildlife police officer, turned into a notorious elephant poacher nicknamed Mbanje, was charged with one count of Unlawful Possession of Prescribed Trophy, that is elephant ivory, contrary to section 130(1) of the Zambia wildlife Act No. 14 of 2015.
Lubango, Angola, June 16 (Xinhua) - Two men have been arrested on Tuesday by the National Police of Angola while they were heading towards the central Huila province with 28 kg of ivory.
Botswana's Wildlife Department had embarked on an operation to relocate and dehorn all rhinos to tackle poaching in the country. According to a statement issued by the department on Monday, the Okavango Delta rhino population had been hard hit with 56 animals reported poached as of May 4.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
BOT_2020-06_Botswana resumes dehorning to fight rhino poaching_Xinhua.pdf | 309.13 KB |
'n Namibiese man, mnr. Harry Garoeb, is Saterdag by Outjo glo met twee erdvarkkarkasse in hegtenis geneem.
A Namibian man, Mr. Harry Garoeb, was allegedly arrested on Saturday at Outjo with two aardvark carcasses.
Attachment | Size |
---|---|
NAM_2020-06_Man vas met twee erdvarkkarkasse_Republikein.pdf | 221.55 KB |
NAM_2020-06_Man arrested with two aardvark carcasses_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 221.58 KB |