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.
Three suspects were shot and fatally wounded in a shootout with police in the early hours of Wednesday, 31 January 2024. Police received intelligence that a group involved in serious crimes including murders committed in the Inanda area were hiding at the Lungelani Informal Settlement in La Mercy. A team comprising of various police disciplines including members of the Hawks descended on the location. Realising that they were surrounded, the suspects opened fire at the police and a shootout ensued.
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SA_2024_31_Three suspects fatally wounded in a shootout with police _SAPS.pdf | 101.56 KB |
Police arrest six suspected rhino poachers in Limpopo and Gauteng; recover horns, guns and ammunition.
Katima Mulilo - Three individuals, Nyambe Calvin Matomola, John Mwelwa, and Nziye Lusinyize, have been brought before the Katima Mulilo Magistrate's Court for alleged possession of controlled wildlife products. The trio was apprehended with a total of 39 elephant tusks, leading to their court appearance on Tuesday. Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism spokesperson, Romeo Muyunda, revealed that Matomola, along with seven Zambian nationals, was caught with 24 tusks after smuggling them into Namibia via the Zambezi Region.
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ZAM_2024_30_Katima Mulilo Court Trials for Elephant Tusk Possession_Namibia News Digest.pdf | 25.4 KB |
Two businessmen and a farmer of Lusaka have been taken to court for illegal possession of a live pangolin, one of the most tracked mammal in the world, valued at over K23, 000. Pangolin meat is considered a delicacy, while their scales are used in traditional Chinese medicine as they are believed to treat a range of ailments from asthma to rheumatism and arthritis.
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ZAM_2024_30_Three found with a live pangolin_held_Mwebantu.pdf | 206.88 KB |
It's not rocket science. Harsher sentences - both locally and abroad - need to be dished out to those who poach rhinos for their horns, or smuggle those horns to other countries. The South African government reported 448 rhinos were killed across the country in 2022 - just three fewer than the previous year. It's welcoming to hear a Singapore court on Friday sentenced Gumede Sthembiso Joel, a 33- year-old South African man, to two years in jail for smuggling rhino horns. It was the heaviest sentence handed down by the city state for trafcking wildlife parts.
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SA_2024_29_Harsh jail sentences way to end war on rhino poaching_The Citizen.pdf | 231.65 KB |
One of Algoa Bay’s most valuable resources is being poached and plundered at an alarming rate. Nelson Mandela Bay has experienced a string of perlemoen-related incidents over the past few days, with experts in the field saying the illegal trade of this protected shellfish is now at an all-time high.
In a crucial operation towards wildlife protection, a Mozambican national has been arrested at Namwera, Mangochi, charged with the illegal possession of a protected wildlife species. The arrest, a serious violation of section 110(b) of the National Parks and Wildlife Act, signifies the ongoing fight against wildlife trafficking, a crime increasingly crossing national boundaries and threatening global biodiversity. Caught in the act was 26-year-old Moses Paul Banda, a Mozambican citizen.
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MOZ_2024_19_Mozambican Arrested for Wildlife Trafficking_A Global Issue_BNN Breaking_Com.pdf | 190.58 KB |
Two men are expected to appear in the Vryheid magistrate's court after they were arrested with two rhino horns and a rie hidden in their car's engine compartment. KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Lt-Col Nqobile Gwala said ofcers acted on information about the suspects and spotted their vehicle on the R34 travelling towards Vryheid and a high-speed chase ensued.
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SA_2024_19_Police arrest two men with rhino horns after high_speed car chase_Timeslive.pdf | 414.61 KB |
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ZIM_2024_01_Zimbabwe_Trio arrested for poaching_Journal of African Elephants.pdf | 90.15 KB |
The police constable and a civilian had been arrested in Nairobi West and Eastleigh with the cargo on Sunday. They had tried to sell the trophies to Kenya Wildlife Service ocials who had posed as potential buyers.
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KEN_2024_17_Policeman among two arrested with elephant tusks in Nairobi_Star.pdf | 287.96 KB |
Three Hurungwe men who captured themselves on camera killing an elephant using traditional weapons and dogs yesterday appeared before Kariba magistrate accused of hunting or removing any animal or part of the animal in a safari area without a permit. Francis Chigomararwa (30), Simeon Kezias (23) and Arthur Murimbika (24) all from Nyamakate area are also facing another charge of killing a buffalo.The accused were unlucky when a video went viral of them killing an elephant after setting their dogs on it before attacking it using spears and axes.
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ZIM_2024_16_Trio arrested for poaching_Newsday Zimbabwe.pdf | 191.01 KB |
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NAM_2024_01_SRT volg eenvoudige benadering tot stropery_Republikein.pdf | 224.82 KB |
NAM_2024_01_SRT takes simple approach to poaching_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 225.05 KB |
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NAM_SRT challenges military style approach to poaching_Namibian Sun.pdf | 457.63 KB |
Bei Outjo mehren sich weiterhin die Vorfälle von Kriminalität auf Farmen. Wie Rolf Wagner und Erika Zamzow von der Farm Moselle gegenüber der AZ berichteten, haben Unbekannte im vergangenen Dezember Solarinstallationen und Pumpen von fünf Wasserstellen der Farm gestohlen. Die Farm arbeite eng mit der Anti-Wilderei-Einheit Nyime zusammen, die die Diebe "über fast 30 Kilometer bis zur Teerstraße Outjo-Khorixas verfolgt" hätten. Die Diebe seien nicht gefasst, aber nahezu alle gestohlenen Teile sichergestellt worden.
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NAM_2024_01_Diebstaehle bei Farmen um Outjo_Allgemeine Zeitung.pdf | 303.47 KB |
NAM_2024_01_Thefts from farms around Outjo_Allgemeine Zeitung_Eng.pdf | 304.72 KB |
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NAM_2024_01_Nashornschutz auf andere Weise_ Allgemeine Zeitung.pdf | 295.45 KB |
NAM_2024_01_Rhino protection in a different way_Allgemeine Zeitung_Eng.pdf | 294.38 KB |
Die 49-jarige Leon Schiffer het Maandag in die landdroshof op Maltahöhe verskyn. Hy word van stropery in die Namib-Naukluft Nasionale Park (in die Sesriem-distrik) aangekla. Luidens verlede naweek se polisieverslag is Schiffer op 5 Januarie omstreeks 10:00 saam met nog 'n verdagte (32) in hegtenis geneem - volgens inligting van die landdroskantoor in Maltahöhe was dit 'n sekere "Gariseb". Die twee het glo nege gemsbokke gestroop.
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NAM_2024_01_Beweerde stropery in Namib Naukluft_Republikein.pdf | 223.95 KB |
NAM_2024_01_Alleged poaching in Namib Naukluft_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 245.02 KB |
Dit gaan baie goed met Venasha, die renosterkalfie wat in Oktober 2022 by die Rhino Momma-projek aangekom het, nadat sy deur haar ma verwerp is. Volgens Juliette Erdtsieck, haar versorger van die afgelope 19 maande, bly Venasha onder meer saam met drie renosterkoeie en hul kalwers in 'n kamp. "Sy word nou regtig baie groot en is 'n regte renoster! Sy het op 26 November haar laaste bottel melk gekry en aan die einde van die jaar is sy na die groot kamp verskuif," sê Juliette. Die Rhino Momma-projek in Namibië het in 2022 in een maand twee wees-renosterkalfies gekry.
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NAM_2024_01_Venasha_die renoster blom_Republikein.pdf | 226.3 KB |
NAM_2024_01_Venasha_The rhino flower_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 454.95 KB |
Botswana and Namibia have embarked on a joint investigation into the increased incidents of elephant poaching in the northern part of Botswana. "The country (Botswana) experienced a surge in elephant poaching incidents during November and December 2023," Lesego Kgomanyane, the spokesperson for Botswana's Ministry of Environment and Tourism, told Xinhua over the telephone, noting that the development has shone the light on the apparent increase in poaching of elephants in northern Botswana.
Twee renosterkarkasse is gister in die Etendeka-toerismekonsessie in die Kunenestreek gevind.
Two rhino carcasses were found in the Etendeka tourism concession in the Kunene region yesterday.
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NAM_2020-08_Renosterkarkasse by Etendeka gevind_Republikein.pdf | 229.32 KB |
NAM_2020-08_Rhino carcasses found at Etendeka_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 228.99 KB |
89 ietermagôskubbe gekonfiskeer. Vier vermeende renosterstropers bly in aanhouding nadat hulle glo ’n witrenosterbul gestroop en ’n witrenosterkoei in die Grootfontein-distrik gekwes het.
89 pangolin scales confiscated. Four suspected rhino poachers remain in custody after they allegedly poached a white rhino bull and injured a white rhino cow in the Grootfontein district.
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NAM_2020-08_Renosterstropers bly in aanhouding_Republikein.pdf | 451.16 KB |
NAM_2020-08_Rhino poachers remain in custody_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 271.01 KB |
Vier mutmaßliche Nashornwilderer, die vergangene Woche in Grootfontein verhaftet wurden, bleiben vorerst in Untersuchungshaft. Die Tatverdächtigen, Dave Uatenguainja Ngumbi (35), Alfred Rukee Katupao (49), Lucas Hidinwa Kautpao (38) und Hengua Kaipi Ngange (40), sind zu Beginn der Woche im Magistratsgericht von Otjiwarongo erschienen. Bei dem Hafttermin wurde der Fall zwecks weiterer Untersuchungen auf den 24. November dieses Jahres vertagt.
Two villagers from Binga have been arrested in Zambia after they were found in possession of a live pangolin they allegedly intended to sell in the neighbouring country.
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ZIM_2020-08_2 Binga folks arrested for possessing live pangolin_The Chronicle.pdf | 377.37 KB |
Vier vermeende renosterstropers is verlede week by Grootfontein in hegtenis geneem nadat hulle glo ’n witrenosterbul gestroop en ’n witrenosterkoei gekwes het.
Four suspected rhino poachers were arrested at Grootfontein last week after they allegedly poached a white rhino bull and injured a white rhino cow.
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NAM_2020-08_Vier vas oor renosterstropery_Republikein.pdf | 340.36 KB |
NAM_2020-08_Four arrested for rhino poaching_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 240.21 KB |
Die Polizei hat vier mutmaßliche Wilderer verhaftet, die auf einer privaten Farm im Grootfontein-Distrikt Breitmaulnashörner gejagt und eines der Tiere erlegt haben sollen. Das berichtete die Polizeisprecherin der Otjozondjupa-Region, Inspector Maureen Mbeha, gestern in Otjiwarongo.
Police have arrested four suspected poachers who are believed to have hunted and killed white rhinos on a private farm in Grootfontein district. This was reported by the police spokeswoman for the Otjozondjupa region, Inspector Maureen Mbeha, yesterday in Otjiwarongo.
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NAM_2020-08_Nashorn tot Vier Personen in Haft_Allgemeine Zeitung.pdf | 330.82 KB |
NAM_2020-08_Rhino dead four people in custody_Allgemeine Zeitung_Eng.pdf | 232.59 KB |
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NAM_2020-08_Rhino poaching accused at Grootfontein remanded in custody_NBC.pdf | 323.75 KB |
A twenty-year-old Zambian man was arrested on Sunday in the Zambezi region after he was found in possession of one elephant tusk and 81 pangolin scales.
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NAM_2020-08_Zambian nabbed for ivory_pangolin scales_The Namibian.pdf | 716.9 KB |
Three carcasses of lions were recently recovered in the wildlife-rich Gonarezhou National Park, south-east of the Lowveld amid fears that poachers from Mozambique were using cyanide to poison animals.
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ZIM_2020-08_Poachers poison park lions_The Herald.pdf | 382.18 KB |
Rampant poaching activities in Matetsi area of Hwange District are threatening the viability of safari hunting industry, a leading safari operator has said. In an interview with Business Chronicle safari operator, Mr Wisdom Bushe Neshavi, said the upsurge in poaching case is crippling safari hunting, which is already reeling under the effects of the novel Covid-19) pandemic.
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ZIM_2020-08_Poachers threaten viability of safari hunting industry in Hwange_The Chronicle.pdf | 401.8 KB |
Four (4) suspects were arrested on 21 August 2020 after they illegally hunted a specially protected game (rhino). The suspects conspired and entered a private Farm to hunt rhinos, they shot and injured a female white Rhino and killed one male White Rhino. The horns were removed. The cow managed to escape with a gunshot wound. It survived.
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NAM_2020-08_4 arrested for rhino poaching_Eagle FM.pdf | 313.17 KB |
Large abalone consignment was kept under surveillance as it travelled from Cape Town to Johannesburg. Police have seized abalone worth an estimated R3-million at a home in the Johannesburg suburb of Mayfair and arrested a 46-year-old man.
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SA_2020-08_Police sting operation leads to abalone seizure and arrest_The South African.pdf | 402.45 KB |
The stricter lockdown of the last few months led to an unexpected consequence - a major decline in rhino poaching. South Africa, home to more than 80% of African rhinos that still exist in the world, is a hotspot for rhino poaching. The number of rhinos killed for their horns has been slowly declining over recent years, but the pandemic and lockdown quelled poaching even more, according to a report from the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries.
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SA_2020-08_Lockdown sees decline in rhino poaching-IOL.pdf | 74.17 KB |
Specialist state prosecutor Advocate Ansie Venter confirmed that the court remains closed, pending Mpumalanga regional court president Naomi Engelbrecht's petition to the Supreme Court of Appeal. The fate of the Skukuza Regional Court continues to teeter as the conservation community waits for the outcome of a petition for leave to appeal a court ruling earlier this year. The court is significant in fighting against rhino poaching, in its recent heyday boasting a 99.8% conviction rate, and 100% success rate in opposed bail…
Botswana has decided to re-arm its wildlife rangers as the southern African country battles increased cases of poaching. In the last six months, at least 17 poachers have been killed in gunfire exchanges with the army. The government had disarmed wildlife rangers in 2018, saying that under the law, only the military was allowed the use of firearms during anti-poaching patrols. With the country losing 56 rhinoceros to poachers in the last two years, the government is reconsidering that approach. Wildlife and Tourism …
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BOT_2020-08_Botswana Moves to Rearm Rangers as Rhino Poaching Intensifies _Voice of America_English.pdf | 952.87 KB |
Some conservationists and activists in South Africa are concerned that criminal syndicates are making it even more difficult to protect rhinos from poachers.
A comprehensive new guide has been published to assist law enforcement agencies to identify trafficked ivory. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites) secretariat, TRAFFIC and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) have published the Identification Guide for Ivory and Ivory Substitutes. It is a comprehensive and accessible resource for identifying the most commonly found ivories and artificial substitutes used for trade.
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NAM_2020-08_Officials get teeth to identify trafficked ivory_Namibian Sun.pdf | 212.21 KB |
Vyf Namibiese mans is verlede week in verband met renosterstropery of horingsmokkelary of pogings daartoe in hegtenis geneem. Volgens die weeklikse wildmisdaadverslag vanaf 10 tot 16 Augustus van die Namibiese polisie en die ministerie van die omgewing, bosbou en toerisme, is mnre. Petrus Johannes en David Ruben verlede Donderdag by Okahao in hegtenis geneem.
The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) has started using drones to detect poachers as part of improved and technology-based conservation strategies.
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ZIM_2020-08_Drones improve sniffing out poachers_The Herald.pdf | 288.17 KB |
'n Lewende ietermagô is Vrydagaand in 'n kamer van 'n 29-jarige man in die Wanaheda-woonbuurt in die hoofstad gevind.
A live pangolin was found in a room of a 29-year-old man in the Wanaheda neighborhood in the capital on Friday night.
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NAM_2020-08_Lewende ietermago in kamer gevind_Republikein.pdf | 240.4 KB |
NAM_2020-08_Livepangolin found in room_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 240.22 KB |
Considering the amount of effort and funds that go into arresting a suspected poacher, and seeing court proceedings through, cases such as this take a signicant toll on the people involved in seeking justice.
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The Citizen_2020-08_Light sentences for poachers take toll on anti_poaching rangers_The Citizen.pdf | 201.88 KB |
Zambia is exploring the possibility of domestically selling its US$100 million ivory stockpile.
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ZAM_2020-08_Zambia wants to sell US100m ivory_TheSouthernTimes.pdf | 331.59 KB |
Three men suspected to be part of a poaching syndicate that has been illegally hunting elephants for their ivory at the Hwange National Park and Binga district both in Matabeleland North have been arrested after being found in possession of ivory worth US$11 395. Enos Mudenda (35) of Mankonkole village under Chief Saba in Binga, Joseph Ngwenya (32) of Siantele village in Chief Shana area in Hwange and Mark Sibanda (38) of Bulawayo’s Mahatshula suburb appeared before Hwange magistrate Sekai Chiwundura to answer to a charge of illegal possession of elephant ivory.
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ZIM_2020-08_Three In Court After Found In Possession Of US11 395 Ivory_New Zimbabwe.pdf | 360.17 KB |
More than half of 363 suspects arrested for animal poaching or trafficking in 2020 were apprehended for crimes involving high-value animal species. This includes rhino, elephant and pangolin, according to the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism.
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NAM_2020-08_Elephant pangolin crimes still highest_The Namibian.pdf | 658.83 KB |
For two decades after Namibia's independence, the country experienced minimal commercial poaching. Over the past 10 years this has rapidly changed. Wildlife crime has skyrocketed and Namibia has rallied to counter the surge. A high of 97 poached rhinos estimated for 2015 has been reduced to 45 in 2019.
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NAM_2020-08_Rhino poaching_not just an environmental crime_The Namibian.pdf | 450.16 KB |
In Zimbabwe, where an estimated 85,000 elephants live, the fight to save vulnerable species isn’t just a full-time job-it's a lifeline. Among Zimbabwe's most dedicated anti-poachers are the Akashinga women, a radical all-female unit that patrols five former trophy hunting reserves for illegal activity. The highly-trained, quasi-military troop is an arm of the nonprofit International Anti-Poaching Foundation.
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ZIM_2020-08_Elephant poachers Zimbabwe_Journal of African Elephants.pdf | 2 MB |
Six suspects were arrested in connection with wildlife crimes and three new cases were opened recently, while seized products included python, leopard and pangolin skins.
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NAM_2020-08_Python skins seized_Namibian Sun.pdf | 280.57 KB |
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BotswanaUnplugged_2020-08_Five countries unite against wildlife crime_BotswanaUnplugged.pdf | 1.99 MB |
The Save the Rhino Trust (SRT) has received a N$1.11 million donation from the Debmarine-Namdeb Foundation to develop innovative ways to nurture reading skills among the youth and protect rhinos in the Kunene Region. The funds will be utilised for the rhino rangers programme, which supports rangers from local communities, but also the Rhino Pride Campaign.
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NAM_2020-08_Training tomorrows rhino rangers_Namibian Sun.pdf | 378.33 KB |
Twee vermeende wildmisdadigers, mnr. Gabriel Kuutondokwa Nalitje en David Simon, is verlede Maandag in Windhoek glo met drie stukke ivoor en een elk luiperd- en ietermagôvel vasgetrek.
Two suspected wildlife criminals, Mr. Gabriel Kuutondokwa Nalitje and David Simon, were allegedly caught last Monday in Windhoek with three pieces of ivory and one each leopard and pangolin skin.
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NAM_2020-08_Twee met ivoor velle vasgetrek_Republikein.pdf | 223.19 KB |
NAM_2020-08_Two arrested with ivory_skins_republikein_Eng.pdf | 222.92 KB |
In just over a week, Ray Jansen and his team have recovered four trafficked pangolins - three of them pregnant - in sting operations from the illicit trade in various parts of South Africa. In total, 11 people were arrested by a team of dedicated and specialised law enforcement officers.The operations are a sign, says Jansen, of the African Pangolin Working Group, that pangolin poaching has resumed under Level 3 lockdown restrictions.
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SA_2020-08_Four pangolins rescued in a week from illegal trade_IOL.pdf | 456.93 KB |