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 members of the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) were apprehended on Friday, within the confines of Mangetti National Park. The arrests followed after park officials saw the perpetrators climbing over a fence during a routine anti-poaching patrol and fence inspection. The three soldiers were arrested while attempting to claim over the Mangetti Park’s boundary fence into the Mururani location, bearing bags laden with dried game meat ranging from Eland, Kudu and Wildebeest.
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NAM_2024_04_Three NDF members arrested for poaching in Mangetti National Park_Windhoek Observer.pdf | 187.67 KB |
In kamoefleerdrag, swart stewels en ’n semi-outomatiese wapen in sy holster, is Marcus Jacobs soggens reg vir aksie. Wat dalk na ’n militêre operasie klink, is in werklikheid die daaglikse roetine van ’n man met ’n missie: die beskerming van bedreigde wild teen stropers. Jacobs is die hoofbestuurder van Namibia Wildlife Protection (NWP), ’n private sekuriteitsmaatskappy wat bedreigde wildspesies in Namibië teen stropers beskerm. Dit sluit in "hoë teikenspesies" soos renosters en olifante. "Ons kan nie meer ons kosbare spesies sonder wapens beskerm nie.
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NAM_2024_04_Wildstropers se Nemesis_Republikein.pdf | 66.37 KB |
NAM_2024_04_Game Poachers Nemesis_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 75.81 KB |
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2024_04_NWP ernstig oor bewaring_Republikein.pdf | 64.53 KB |
NAM_2024_04_NWP serious about conservation_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 74.69 KB |
A major shipment of 651 pieces of elephant ivory has been seized in Mozambique en route to Dubai. Officials from Mozambique's Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC) and the Tax Authority intercepted a container at Maputo port on 22 March 2024 and found the ivory concealed in a shipment of bags of corn. This is the third known large-scale seizure of elephant ivory exported from Mozambique since 2022.
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MAL_2024_03_Two jailed for possessing live Pangolin in Balaka_Malawi 24.pdf | 230 KB |
In a recent incident in Katombora, Middle Zambezi Valley, two suspected poachers met a fatal end after engaging in a firefight with Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife (Zimparks) rangers. The confrontation resulted in the deaths of the poachers, while three others were apprehended. The rangers acted swiftly to protect wildlife and recovered 15 elephant tusks, along with a rifle and ammunition.
A handful of hunting guides have been arrested in various parts of the country over the past few months, each charged with separate illegal activities related to leopard hunting. The ministry is working very closely with the police and has decided that if the industry cannot rid itself of illicit practices, then rigorous law enforcement is the only option.
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NAM_2024_03_Growing number of leopard_hunting guides arrested_Namibian Sun.pdf | 156.24 KB |
Drie mans is die afgelope naweek in hegtenis geneem nadat hulle met beskermde plantspesies van ongeveer N$80 000 in die Kavango-Wesstreek betrap is. "Die drie verdagtes van onderskeidelik 27, 30 en 37 jaar oud, is Vrydag by die Namasira-polisiekontrolepunt gearresteer nadat hulle met 7 x 150 kg-sakke Cyphostemma, met 'n gewig van sowat 429 kg en ter waarde van N$79 288, betrap is," lui die Namibiese polisie se misdaadverslag. Volgens die verslag het die verdagtes nie 'n permit gehad wat hulle goedkeuring verleen het om die spesifieke beskermde plantspesies te oes of te vervoer…
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NAM_2024_03_Mans betrap met beskermde plante_Republikein.pdf | 236.41 KB |
NAM_2024_03_Men caught with protoected plants_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 237.08 KB |
Three Namibians were nabbed last week after they were caught in possession of close to 450 kilograms of protected plants, estimated to be worth nearly N$80 000. According to the Namibian Police, the three men - aged 27, 30 and 37 - were caught at the Namasira police checkpoint in the Kavango West Region last Friday. Police discovered the men were transporting seven 150-kilogram bags containing 176 gouty-vine (cyphostemma) plants weighing, 429 kilograms in total. The pants were valued at N$79 288.
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NAM_2024_03_Three men caught with protected plants worth NS80 000_Namibian Sun.pdf | 204.71 KB |
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ZIM_2024_03_University student_ accomplice jailed for possessing pangolin scales_The Herald.pdf | 107.46 KB |
In Namibia werden vermehrt Leoparden auf inakzeptable Weise gejagt. Jagdpraktiken, die der Tierquälerei nahekommen und nichts mehr mit naturschutzorientierter Jagd im Einklang mit der Natur zu tun haben, fassen in der Branche zunehmend Fuß - dem muss ein Ende gesetzt werden. In Namibia, leopards are increasingly being hunted in unacceptable ways. Hunting practices that come close to animal cruelty and no longer have anything to do with conservation-oriented hunting in harmony with nature are increasingly gaining a foothold in the industry - this must be put to an end.
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NAM_2024_04_Leopardenjagd eskaliert_Allgemeine Zeitung.pdf | 358.49 KB |
NAM_2024_03_Leopard hunting escalates_Allgemeine Zeitung_Eng.pdf | 355.25 KB |
A Nairobi court has frozen ownership of a Mercedes Benz and a block of residential flats built on prime land within Allsops area in Ruaraka belonging to televangelist and businessman Jackson Mbugua Burugu. This is in connection with a case of poaching that is pending in court. Lady Justice Diana Kavedza of the Nairobi Anti-Corruption and Economic Crimes Division issued the freezing order following a suit filed by the Asset Recovery Agency. Burugu is a prominent Nairobi-based televangelist who is commonly referred to as 'Bishop'.
South Africa's Succulent Karoo is home to flora that occur nowhere else on earth. But a rapidly escalating onslaught by criminal networks threatens many of these rare species. This webinar will showcase insights from a new ENACT report that explores the illegal market for ornamental succulents, focusing on South Africa’s multistakeholder efforts to counter the trade. Speakers will highlight key challenges and opportunities, and put forward recommendations to improve responses.
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SA_Growing_growing_gone_safeguarding SAs illegally traded succulents_ISS Africa.pdf | 109.38 KB |
Between 2015 and February 2024, Namibia lost a staggering 631 rhinos due to poaching, marking a concerning downturn in its conservation success. This is according to statistics provided by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism last week during the Commemoration of World Wildlife Day 2024. Breaking down the figures year by year, statistics paint a grim picture of 97 rhinos poached in 2015 alone, with six reported to be poached in 2016 and five poached in 2017.
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NAM_2024_03_More than 600 rhinos were poached in ten years_Windhoek Observer.pdf | 965.03 KB |
The Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism has sounded the alarm on the rapid decline of wildlife habitats due to deforestation and industrial emissions, exacerbating the impacts of climate change and hindering efforts to sustainably manage natural resources. In a statement released over the weekend to mark World Wildlife Day, Romeo Muyunda, spokesperson for the ministry, highlighted the urgent need to confront the challenges confronting local wildlife.
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NAM_2024_03_Namibia_Deforestation and Poaching Threaten Endangered Species_Namibia Economist.pdf | 1.97 MB |
Windhoek, March 04-Namibia boasts a healthy population of wildlife species, and its conservation efforts are held in high regard globally. However, recent poaching statistics reveal a troubling trend, with the country losing a total of 631 rhinos over the past decade. According to Romeo Muyunda, spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism, Namibia recorded 97 rhino poachings in 2015, 66 in 2016, 55 in 2017, 84 in 2018, 61 in 2019, 48 in 2020, 53 in 2021, 92 in 2022, 67 in 2023, and 8 in 2024 to date.
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NAM_2024_03_Rhino_poaching still a major concern for Namibian Government_Namibia Daily News.pdf | 452.17 KB |
Namibia's Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism said Saturday that rapid deforestation and industrial emissions in the country are causing habitat loss for rare and endangered wildlife, exacerbating climate change impacts such as droughts and floods, and hindering efforts to sustainably manage natural resources for future generations. In a statement commemorating World Wildlife Day, Romeo Muyunda, the ministry's spokesperson, underscored the critical need to address the challenges facing Namibia's wildlife.
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NAM_2024_03_Namibia warns of wildlife crisis due to deforestation_poaching_China.org_.cn_.pdf | 690.09 KB |
Three Kruger National Park staff members who were arrested for the possession of rhino horns earlier this month are due to appear in the Bushbuckridge Magistrate's Court for bail application today.
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SA_2020-10_Kruger employees in court after found with rhino horns_Lowvelder.pdf | 1.3 MB |
The police have concluded their investigations into the case of self-proclaimed preacher Jackson Babi, who stands accused of attempting to bribe officers of the law about three months ago. Babi appeared alongside his co-accused Ananias Ananias yesterday before magistrate Linus Samunzala in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court.
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NAM_2020-10_Cops complete bribery probe against preacher_New Era.pdf | 474.71 KB |
The police in the Omusati region have arrested two men for allegedly illegally hunting protected game. According to the regional crime investigations coordinator, Deputy Commissioner Moses Simaho, the offences were committed on 17 October 2020 around 18h00 at Omutambowomawe and Okaonde areas in the Ruacana constituency. He said the suspects used their private vehicle to transport illegally hunted game meat, of which the police recovered one carcass of eland, three duikers, a dik-dik, a rabbit and a bow white bird.
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NAM_2020-10_Two nabbed for hunting game_New Era.pdf | 296.96 KB |
Prophet Jackson Babi and another man, Ananias Ananias, who stand accused of attempting to bribe a police officer, are expected to make another court appearance next month in connection with the charges. The two men briefly appeared in the Windhoek Magistrate’s Court on bribery charges after it was alleged that they offered a police officer N$13 000 to make the charges against Babi disappear.
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NAM_2020-10_Prophet Babi returns to court in November_Informante.pdf | 1.34 MB |
Die selfverklaarde profeet Jackson Babi en ’n medebeskuldigde wat glo polisieondersoekbeamptes met N$13 000 probeer omkoop het, sal volgende week in die hof pleit.
The self-proclaimed prophet Jackson Babi and a co-accused who allegedly tried to bribe police investigators with N $ 13 000, will plead in court next week.
’n Renosterverskalfie van slegs een jaar oud wat steeds aan haar ma gedrink het, is op ’n wildsplaas in die Gobabis-distrik gestroop.
A one-year-old rhino calf who was still drinking from her mother was poached on a game farm in the Gobabis district.
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NAM_2020-10_Eenjarige renosterkalf gestroop_Republikein.pdf | 324.81 KB |
NAM_2020-10_One year old rhino calf poached_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 224.44 KB |
A one-year-old white rhino calf has been killed by poachers on a farm in the Gobabis district. Farm owner Walter Kinnear says the calf’s tiny horn was removed by the poachers.
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NAM_2020-10_Poachers kill rhino calf_Namibian Sun.pdf | 368.48 KB |
Die Polizei hat am Wochenende gleich mehrere Fälle des Viehdiebstahls bzw. der Wilderei gemeldet - darunter gehört auch die Tötung eines Nashorn-Kalbs. In einigen Fällen hat es Festnahmen gegeben.
The police reported several cases of cattle theft and poaching over the weekend - including the killing of a rhinoceros calf. There have been arrests in some cases
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NAM_2020-10_Nashorn bei Gobabis gewildert_Allgemeine Zeitung.pdf | 357.53 KB |
NAM_2020-10_Rhino poached at Gobabis_Allgemeine Zeitung_Eng.pdf | 353.65 KB |
The employees, two of whom are security guards while the other is attached to technical services at one of the Kruger National Park rest camps, appeared in court on Thursday following the discovery of fresh rhino horns in their vehicle. In a statement released by SANParks on Friday, the Managing Executive for the Kruger park, Gareth Coleman, said it was "always disheartening when colleagues from SANParks are involved in criminal activities.
Three SA National Parks (SANParks) employees, among them two security guards, have been arrested in possession of fresh rhino horns outside the gates of the Kruger National Park. SANParks said the third person arrested is in technical services.
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SA_2020-10_SANParks employees arrested with rhino horns outside gates of Kruger Park_The Citizen.pdf | 222.89 KB |
South African National Parks (SANParks) announced the arrest of three staff members on 20 October 2020; in an extended Intel driven operation by SANParks, SAPS Crime Intelligence Unit, Sabi Sands and Skukuza SAPS Stock Theft Unit outside Kruger Gate. Two of the officials were employed as Security Guards and one was attached to Technical Services at one of the rest camps. The three were likely to appear in court on Thursday, 22 October 2020 and will thereafter be subjected to internal employee disciplinary procedures.
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SA_2020-10_ SANParks staff members arrested on suspicion of rhino poaching_SANParks.pdf | 119.55 KB |
Anti-poaching initiatives instituted by Zimbabwe are bearing fruits as the country recorded a 78 percent decline in rhino poaching incidents in the first six months of 2020 compared to same period last year. Statistics from the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) show that four rhinos were poached from January to June 2020. The figure for January - June 2019 was 19.
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ZIM_2020-10_Anti-poaching initiatives pay dividends_The Southern Times.pdf | 164.87 KB |
Two men were arrested in the CBD for allegedly trafficking and trying to sell a pangolin for approximately R350 000. Preliminary investigations revealed the pangolin was from Thabazimbi.
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SA_2020-10_Two arrested in Pretoria CBD for allegedly trying to sell pangolin for R350 000_IOL.pdf | 176.19 KB |
SADC countries have individually decided not to get involved in the non-commercial international trade in rhino horn. This questionable decision has happened despite approval for such trade by the UN international wild trade-regulating agency, CITES, and despite the help, it would give to wildlife conservation, the jobs it would create, and the socio-economic benefits it would bring to Southern Africa. Why? The reluctance to trade rhino horn in any way possible seems strange in the face of the economic devastation, particularly to rural areas, caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
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NAM_2020-10_Opinion_Why SADC_countries still oppose rhino horn trade_New Era.pdf | 328.27 KB |
Namibia has drastically cut down on the number of rhino poaching cases in the past year despite the country still battling the problem, Minister of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Pohamba Shifeta told Parliament on Wednesday.
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NAM_2020-10_Namibia drastically reduces poaching cases_ minister_Xinhua.pdf | 118.59 KB |
Vier maande gelede het Chinese staatsmedia aangekondig ietermagôskubbe is van tradisionele medisynelyste verwyder, maar navorsing weerspreek dat dié benadering in werklikheid toegepas word. Volgens ’n verslag getiteld “Smoke and Mirrors” van die Omgewingsondersoekagentskap (EIA) wat vandeesmaand gepubliseer is, word ietermagôprodukte steeds in tradisionele medisyne gebruik.
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NAM_2020-10_China se rookskerm vir ietermagog_Republikein.pdf | 158.25 KB |
NAM_2020-10_Chinas smoke and mirror for pangolin_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 156.71 KB |
SADC countries have individually decided not to get involved in the non-commercial international trade in rhino horn. This questionable decision has happened despite approval for such trade by the UN international wild trade-regulating agency, CITES, and despite the help it would give to wildlife conservation, the jobs it would create, and the socio-economic benefits it would bring to Southern Africa.
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Bulawayo24News_2020-10_Why SADC countries still oppose rhino horn trade_Bulawayo24 News.pdf | 316.76 KB |
At Opuwo, two Namibians were arrested on 13 October for being in possession of a pangolin. At Grootfontein, a Namibian, Raimo Kakongo, was arrested on 11 October on a charge of conspiring to poach a rhino. The case dates back to August this year. He has been charged with contravening the Riotous Assemblies Act. At Opuwo, two Namibians were arrested on 13 October for being in possession of a pangolin. Uaninazo Muheke and Mavetumbuavi Mutambo were charged with contravening the Controlled Wildlife Products and Trade Act.
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NAM_2020-10_Seven apprehended for wildlife crimes_Namibian Sun.pdf | 292.67 KB |
At a time when tourism income has evaporated, the demand on wildlife protection has only increased. Helping to fill this gap is local gold major, B2Gold who donated a new Land Cruiser to Save the Rhino Trust.
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NAM_2020-10_Rhino gold bar proceeds fund new patrol car for Save the Rhino Trust_Namibia Economist.pdf | 536.64 KB |
Patrol groups of the paramilitary National Anti-Poaching Squad have arrested 27 people on suspicions of being involved in a series of poaching incidents in the past 10 months in the Moyowosi and Uvinza game reserves of Kigoma region.
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TAN_2020-10_Anti_poaching squad ropes in 27 suspects_IPP media.pdf | 358.58 KB |
Until an illegal wildlife trade report was published in May 2015, Malawi's role in one of the world's largest transnational organised crimes was largely unknown. The landlocked southeast African nation - bordered by countries with large wildlife populations - was revealed to be a major trafficking hub for ivory, pangolin scales, rhino horn and other illegal wildlife commodities. Malawi's weak identification and enforcement systems were being systematically exploited by criminals to export their products to China, Vietnam and other demand countries. In response…
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Malawi_2020-10_Illegal wildlife trade_Journal of African Elephants.pdf | 828.61 KB |
"We've gone 12 months without an elephant being shot and killed by poachers at Mana Pools National Park, which is a huge result." For Nick Murray, a conservationist born in Pontypridd, this result has followed years of hard work. Nick now runs a conservation project with his wife Desiree covering the Lower Zambezi Valley of Zimbabwe, an area of 10,000 sq km (3,800 sq miles).
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ZIM_2020-10_Elephants My mission to stop poachers in Zimbabwe_New Zimbabwe.pdf | 502.55 KB |
Springbok - Two men have been arrested after they were found in possession of an endangered plant species worth about R200 000 in Springbok in the Northern Cape in the early hours of Sunday morning, the South African Police Service (SAPS) in the province said.
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SA_2020_10_Two men arrested for dealing in endangered plants_IOL.pdf | 255.68 KB |
Namibia is dehorning most of its endangered black rhinos in an effort to curb poaching, official said Thursday. According to Environment Ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda, Namibia has dehorned about 208 rhinos this year, bringing the total number of dehorned rhinos to 666 since 2018.
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NAM_2020-10_Namibia dehorns 666 rhinos since 2018 to curb poaching_CGTN Africa.pdf | 235.7 KB |
By introducing a zoning approach, the necessary resources can be redirected to areas most in need of support. Seven Integrated Wildlife Zones are being introduced across South Africa to protect the country’s rhino. "By demarcating areas primarily around rhino populations, wildlife in the area, as well the people living in and around conservation areas, will be protected," said the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Barbara Creecy.
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SA_2020-10_Wildlife zones introduced to protect rhino_South Coast Herald.pdf | 309.77 KB |
Een Angolese en ses Namibiese mans is verlede week by Mururani in verband met renosterstropery vasgetrek. Volgens die hoof van die Blue Rhino-taakspan, komm. Barry de Klerk, is ’n swartrenosterbul gekwes. "Weens die erge skietwonde moes 'n veearts ongelukkig die renoster uitsit," het De Klerk aan Republikein gesê.
Pangolins are the most poached and trafficked animal species in Namibia, crime statistics show. A total of 174 wildlife crime cases involving high-value species were registered last year and more than 360 suspects were arrested. According to the 2019/2020 annual progress report of the environment ministry, 92 of these cases related to pangolin, 54 related to elephants, 32 related to rhinos and 17 to conspiracy to poach rhinos.
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NAM_2020-10_363 arrested for wildlife crimes in 2019_Namibian Sun.pdf | 405.29 KB |
The arrest and recovery was made by the Pietermaritzburg Flying Squad and K9 Unit during a joint operation. A South Coast man was arrested for being in possession of a rhino horn valued at R1,2 million after being stopped during a police operation in Pietermaritzburg last week.
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SA_2020-10_Bail denied to rhino horn suspect_South Coast Herald.pdf | 1.66 MB |
Fourteen suspects have been arrested in connection with wildlife crimes and seven new cases have been registered. Three of the suspects were arrested in connection with rhino poaching or trafficking. According to the information provided by the intelligence and investigation unit within the environment and tourism ministry and the protected resources unit within the safety and security ministry, 11 illegal wildlife products were seized.
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NAM_2020-10_14 caught for wildlife crimes_Namibian Sun.pdf | 288.91 KB |
As international borders reopen, the government has warned game reserves around SA to prepare for a possible resurgence in rhino poaching. Because of this threat, hundreds of rhinos in game reserves in the North West have been dehorned to protect them from poachers. Dehorning involves tracking the animals and darting them before removing their horns while they are sedated. Tracking the rhinos requires two helicopters and teams of people on the ground.
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SA_2020-10_Dehorned is better than dead_rangers race to protect rhinos as borders reopen_Timeslive.pdf | 271.92 KB |
Vier wildmisdadigers het ligte vonnisse in Namibiese howe gekry. ‘n Angolees John Emmanuel, ‘n Rwandese burger, Theogen Nkuruziza, en Namibiër Vilho Mwahafa is op 10 Desember 2018 met ‘n lewende ietermagô in hul besit op Otjiwarongo in hegtenis geneem. Die drie is skuldig bevind en op 21 September elk gevonnis tot ‘n boete van N$8 000 of 28 maande tronkstraf waarvan 1 jaar vir 60 maande opgeskort is. Hul Angolese medebeskuldigde, mnr. Albino Shipipes, is vrygespreek. Ietermagogs is die mees gesmokkelde soogdier ter wêreld.
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NAM_2020-10_Ligte strawwe vir wildmisdadigers_Republikein.pdf | 324.52 KB |
NAM_2020-10_Mild penalties for wildlife criminals_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 227.89 KB |