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A 47-year-old resident of Onamishu village in the Oshikoto Region was recently arrested by the police after he was allegedly found in possession of 100 kilograms of dried kudu meat. The meat was discovered in his shebeen, and law enforcement officers said that his intention was to secretly take the meat to a market outside Onamishu for sale. It is further alleged that he was found in possession of a shotgun and respective ammunition, which the police suspect was used in the illegal hunting of the kudu.

Two former Kruger National Park field rangers were sentenced to 20 years' direct imprisonment each for rhino poaching. The Skukuza Regional Court secured the win for this near-extinct species on Friday, September 27, when it handed down sentences to Lucky Mkanzi (30) and Nzima Joel Sihlangu (32).

A case in which two Kunene conservancies, a traditional authority and a tourism company tried to get a court order to stop mining activities and the construction of a road in their area is not urgent, a judge ruled in the Windhoek High Court on Friday. Judge Orben Sibeya ruled that an application filed by the Doro !Nawas and Ûibasen Twyfelfontein conservancies, the ≠Aodaman Traditional Authority and the company, Ultimate Safaris, two weeks ago does not meet the requirements to be heard as an urgent matter.

However, due to long periods of over-hunting and poaching their meat (subsistence poaching) and ivory tusks, that number declined significantly across the continent between the 70s and 80s. It’s reported that an average of 100 000 elephants were killed each year during that time, and by 2016, experts estimated a drop in those numbers by 111 000 within a decade. Today, there are only 415 000 elephants across Africa, with Botswana being home to the world's largest elephant population.

Wildlife crime remains an international conservation management issue that threatens ecotourism, ecological balance and biodiversity. The industry of illegal hunting and trade in wildlife and wildlife products is estimated to be worth US$50-US$150 billion per annum, according to the United Nations Environment Programme, and continues to pose a threat towards globally-endangered wildlife species. The escalation of wildlife crime also threatens national and local economies, the criminal justice and security systems, and public health.

"White rhino populations in South Africa are on the rise despite poaching," the report says. Curiously, the report does not mention private ownership of the species, which has been one of the driving forces behind this trend. The report notes that by 2012, there were more than 21,000 white rhinos on the planet, capping a remarkable comeback from the brink of extinction. A century earlier, there were fewer than 100.

Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Narend Singh, says he believes that dehorning rhinos is not necessarily the answer to the poaching problem. Singh has expressed his concerns about continued rhino poaching in the country. This comes as the globe marked World Rhino Day yesterday. The day highlights the global effort to protect and raise awareness about rhino conservation and the threats they face. Singh says more can still be done.

According to the International Rhino Foundation, the largest population of rhinos in the world is found in South Africa. Only 16 056 rhinos are left in South Africa, but not nearly enough to save the species from endangerment. 'World Rhino Day' is commemorated annually on September 22 to continue to raise awareness about rhino poaching across the globe. Due to ongoing poaching, the number of rhinos continues to get lower. KwaZulu-Natal has the highest number of poaching cases with 145 rhinos poached from January to June this year alone.

Two communal conservation areas near Khorixas feel betrayed by the decision of the environment ministry to allow mining activities in a joint management area where rhinos are threatened. The conservation areas of Doro ! Nawas and Ûibasen Twyfelfontein recently succeeded in obtaining a court order to stop road construction activities related to mining claims within their nuclear rhino conservation area.

A black rhino bull was poached from a farm in the Otavi district of the Otjozondjupa region between last Monday and Saturday. According to the Namibian police's weekly crime report, the carcass of the rhinoceros was discovered with the horns removed from the bull.

In Namibia, despite famed conservation efforts, close to 300 rhinos have been poached over the past 4 years (2020 to 2023), according to wildlife reports from the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism.

The Doro ! Nawas and Ûibasen Twyfelfontein recently obtained a court order to halt road construction work for planned mining operations to protect rhinos in their area. They are supported by the traditional authority Aodaman and Ultimate Safaris, a tourism partner, in their lawsuit against mining entrepreneurs Ottillie Ndimulunde and Timoteus Mashuna. The lawsuit is also directed against the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Mines, the Commissioner for the Environment and the Commissioner for Mines.

The disappearance of the giant sable: The giant sable antelope was first discovered in the early 20th century and went on to become Angola’s national animal. However, due to their striking horns, the antelopes soon became a target for poachers, says renowned Angolan conservationist Pedro Vaz Pinto. In 1975, their prospects took a turn for the worse when a civil war broke out in Angola following its independence from Portugal. Over the next 27 years, the conflict devastated the country's wildlife and the giant sable was no exception.

On Monday, Khorixas pensioner Leonard Hoaeb contacted Namibian Sun to complain about a social media post the newspaper published pertaining to Ultimate Safaris, the Doro-Nawas and Uibasen-Twyfelfontein conservancies and the #Aodanam Traditional Authority appearing in court to fight the projects. "Ultimate Safaris is making millions from this area but we, the community, are getting nothing. They have 28 employees, while the mine will employ 140 employees in the first phase. Why can’t they co-exist?” he wanted to know.

In the latest case, people living around the arid northern community of Khorixas looked out one morning last month to find a new road being bulldozed through an area they had been managing, together with the tourism company Ultimate Safaris and the nonprofit Save The Rhinos Trust, as habitat for black rhinos, an endangered species. The conservancies, together with the tourism company, went to court, alleging that the road, and mining project it will serve, showed up on the scene "without any consultation" with them.

Mining operations will pose a direct threat to critically endangered black rhinos in an area south-west of Khorixas. This is detailed in an urgent application filed at the Windhoek High Court by two communal conservancies, a traditional authority and a tourism operator. Black rhinos in the area will be under increased threat of poaching or migrate out of the area if plans to start mining operations go ahead, the Doro !Nawas and Ûibasen Twyfelfontein conservancies, the ≠Aodaman Traditional Authority and the company Ultimate Safaris claimed in an urgent application filed on Friday…

An alleged habitual poacher was shot and killed over the weekend by a truck driver, whom he reportedly tried to rob. Ashley 'Luxman' Eiseb was allegedly shot at the Oosland abattoir in the Gobabis district last Friday after he smashed the window of a truck in an attempt to rob the driver. According to recent media reports, he was shot in the chest during the incident. He then fled in a vehicle with a group of other suspects, but the car ran out of fuel near Omitara. Three individuals were allegedly found with the vehicle.

The Namibia Professional Hunting Association (Napha) has publicly emphasised the need to distinguish between illegal and ethical practices related to leopard hunting but has not clearly condemned the illegal activities that are being exposed by the media as well as being investigated by law enforcement and prosecuted in the courts. Behind the scenes, parts of the trophy sector are lobbying to legalise hunting with dogs and hunting at night.

Namibia's recent success in returning a fugitive from South Africa to stand trial has underscored the importance of cooperating with Interpol to adhere to the complexities of the extradition process worldwide.  The International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol)'s National Central Bureau (NCB) in Windhoek focusses its global police cooperation activities around Namibia's crime areas of concern, including wildlife crime (particularly stock theft), drug crime, money-laundering, firearms’ trafficking and human trafficking.  The Namibian Police (Nampol) uses its…

A Chinese national has been slapped with a R250,000 fine for illegal possession of abalone and for operating a fish processing establishment without a permit. Qing Yun Jiang, 58, was also handed a two-year sentence behind bars. He was arrested by sea border police in December 2022. The Wynberg magistrate's court sentenced him on Friday. Hawks' spokesperson, Lt-Col Siyabulela Vukubi said police found abalone worth about R3m when they searched premises in Mowbray, Cape Town. He said the matter was referred to the Hawks' economic protected resources unit for investigation.

A man suspected of being a poacher, 27-year-old Claudius Hameva, was fatally shot at a game farm around Okakarara earlier this morning following a scuffle between him and the farm's security guard.

Tanzanian police said on Friday they have seized 10 pieces of ivory weighing 23 kilograms and arrested two suspected poachers in connection with illegal possession of the ivory.

The artificial intelligence (AI) cameras installed in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park failed to detect poachers after four dehorned rhinos were found last week. The carcasses were found on different days and appeared to have been killed a few days earlier.

BDF is investigating a case in which the suspected poacher allegedly stabbed the soldier with a sharp object during an anti-poaching operation.

Farmer in der Umgebung von Usakos und Karibib müssen wachsam sein Seit. Monaten kämpfen Farmer in der Umgebung von Usakos und Karibib gegen eine besonders hohen Anzahl Fälle der Wilderei - das Ausmaß wird als alarmierend bezeichnet und die private Antiwildereieinheit arbeitet nahezu rund um die Uhr. Die Polizei untersucht das Ausmaß.

As part of its many anti-poaching efforts, the Kruger National Park (KNP) dehorns some of its rhinos to make them a less attractive trophy for poachers.

A HCMC court Friday sentenced a man to six years in jail for illegally transporting rhino horns weighing over six kilograms from Mozambique.

Poaching has risen to alarming levels in the Karibib district during the past three months, with dozens of large game animals having been butchered, injured and some having to be put down. "Covid-19 must have contributed to the sharp increase in poaching. People lost their jobs and are hungry, so there is a demand for meat. The festive season is also around the corner, so this also contributes to an increase," Butzi Kühne of Kühne Security and Anti-Poaching Unit told The Namibian.

There has been a continued downward trend in elephant poaching in parts of Africa, data shows. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) programme for Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants (MIKE) has published its annual report analysing trends regarding illegally killed elephants in Africa, based on data collected by MIKE sites on the continent. Namibia boasts two of these sites - in the Etosha National Park and in the Zambezi Region.

A Namibian man who illegally hunted two warthogs and an impala was sentenced to five months in prison or a N$6 000 fine last week. According to the latest wildlife crime report, only two new cases of wildlife crime were reported between 8 November and 15 November. Two suspects were arrested in connection with wildlife crime and five illegal wildlife products were seized. These were two warthog carcasses, an impala carcass and a lechwe carcass. At Kalkfeld, a Namibian man was arrested on 8 November for being in possession of two warthog carcasses and an impala carcass.

The 30-year prison term of a cattle poacher, who successfully challenged the constitutionality of the severe sentences which were prescribed for stock thieves in Namibia, has been reduced to 12 years by the Supreme Court.

Mutare: A local man together with a Zimbabwe National Army officer were arrested by police detectives from the Minerals Flora and Fauna unit after being found in possession of two live pangolins.

Self-proclaimed prophet Jackson Babi has approached the High Court to appeal against a decision by the Windhoek Magistrate's Court to deny him bail. The flamboyant Babi claims magistrate Linus Samunzala misdirected himself in law and fact when he denied him bail. In September, the lower court refused to release Babi on bail, citing he failed to give convincing evidence to be released pending his trial. The court also ruled there was a likelihood Babi would interfere with the investigations.

The rhino population at Uganda's Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary has been growing steadily, from nearly extinction in the 1970s to 32 at present, due to increased security and protection.

A Vietnamese woman was arrested at Maputo International Airport on Monday, found in possession of ve pieces of rhino horn and 162 assorted lions' teeth and claws. It can be inferred that three rhinos and 12 lions, both species protected by law, were slaughtered in the amassing of the haul.

Das Ministerium für Umwelt, Forstwirtschaft und Tourismus greift hart und konsequent gegen die Wilderei durch. Im Etoscha-Nationalpark wurde vor einiger Zeit eine spezialisierte Hundeeinheit stationiert, nun soll noch eine berittene Einheit dazukommen. "Der Etoscha-Nationalpark ist Namibias Aushängeschild. Touristen reisen in den Park und wollen die Artenvielfalt bewundern und beobachten - und genau das müssen wir schützen", stellte Umweltminister Pohamba Shifeta am Mittwoch bei Okaukuejo klar.

Etosha - Although poaching of endangered species such as rhino and elephant have been reported to be minimal in the Etosha National Park, environment minister Pohamba Shifeta has called on law enforcement officials to do ballistic testing among communities adjacent to the park. Shifeta made the call Wednesday when he was briefed on the security situation cluster on antipoaching operation 'Yes Ongava' phase 18 in the Etosha National Park.

Namibia is in the process of establishing a special operations unit that will include the use of horses to help curb poaching, an ofcial said on Wednesday. According to Manie le Roux, who coordinates the K9 unit at the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, the mounted unit, which will have 12 horses and 14 members, will work together with the canine unit.

A NamPower employee's arrest and court appearance in connection with poaching has shone the spotlight on the parastatal's employees abusing their access to farms.

Kenya's black rhino population has doubled from less than 400 in 1985 to 794 by the end of 2019. Kenya is home to the last remaining two Northern White Rhinos in the world. "But, the Northern White Rhinos are endangered. There are only two existing in the world that are only found at the Ol Pejeta conservancy. We are making sure the white rhinos are saved and we produce more. We must protect these animals," said Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala during a webinar commemorating World Rhino Day last month.

Namibian law enforcement arrested 121 suspected poachers in three months inside the Etosha National Park with the help of the newly-established anti-poaching K9 unit, the police have said on Wednesday.

NamPower has launched an internal investigation against its employee, Joel Ochurub, who was arrested Saturday near Kalkfeld after he was allegedly found with poached warthogs and an impala in an official vehicle.

Auf reges Interesse stieß am 29. Oktober eine Veranstaltung der Wissenschaftlichen Gesellschaft Swakopmund. Der Veranstaltungssaal des Swakopmund Museums war zu drei viertel gefüllt, als Kelsey Prediger ihren Vortrag zur Ökologie des Steppenschuppentieres (Temminck's ground pangolin) in Namibia hielt. Diese in Namibia heimische Art ernährt sich von Termiten und Ameisen und spielt in der Ökologie des Landes eine wichtige Rolle.

The government is in the process of establishing a special operations unit that will include the use of horses to help curb poaching, an ocial said this week. According to Manie le Roux, who coordinates the K9 unit at the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, the mounted unit, which will have 12 horses and 14 members, will work together with the canine unit. "Anti-poaching efforts need a combination of support," he said. "We want to add horses patrol to the air, vehicle and dog patrols."

During the month-long Operation Thunder, Border Force officers at ports and airports made 178 seizures containing thousands of products regulated under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). These included elephant tusks and other ivory goods, live corals and reptile skin products. Border Force also made a number of non-CITES seizures including heroin, cocaine, cannabis and cigarettes.

An evangelical preacher who has been in jail since May after being arrested over the possession of rhino horns and the poaching of a rhino in the Gobabis district on Friday denied guilt on a charge of bribery in the Windhoek Magistrate's Court.

Zambia is leading a push for African countries to obtain a CITES waiver that would allow them to legally export ivory stockpiles. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has an international ban on trade and sale of ivory and related products. Southern African countries have accrued huge stockpiles of ivory worth millions of dollars over the decades. The stockpiles mostly constitute ivory from elephants culled for conservation and ecological purposes.

Namibian conservation efforts have faced a number of major crises over the past half century.

The three Kruger National Park employees who were arrested for possession of rhino horns were granted bail in the Bushbuckridge Magistrate's Court last Thursday.

The Bank of Namibia (BoN) joined the fight to preserve Namibian rhinos by supporting the Save the Rhino Trust (SRT) Namibia through a donation of N$480 000.