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.
Josephina Johannes was granted bail on Monday after appearing in the Tsumeb Magistrates Court. Johannes is accused of being in possession of protected game bird meat without a permit. According to Oshikoto Community Affairs Officer Inspector Ellen Nehale, the accused was granted bail of N$5,000, and the case was postponed to August 17, 2023, pending further investigation.
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NAM_2023_05_Woman granted bail for possession of wild bird carcasses_Informante.pdf | 213.33 KB |
Four men were arrested for allegedly attempting to sell two endangered pangolins for R200 000 in Mahikeng, North West.
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SA_2023_05_Hawks pounce on pangolin peddlers_four arrested_The SouthAfrican.pdf | 438.91 KB |
Pretoria - At least four people have been arrested by the Hawks in North West while they were selling two pangolins at a mall. Spokesperson for the Hawks in North West, Captain Tlangelani Rikhotso, said the two pangolins were being sold for R200 000.
Elephant's Foot, a sort of succulent that may be found in Africa, were poached and smuggled in toy shipping containers bound for China. Recently, shipments of children's toys labeled "Made in China" were strangely returned to China, which piqued the suspicion of South African customs officers. Upon closer inspection, it was discovered that the packages were actually stuffed with stolen goods rather than toys at all. Chinese criminal organizations-often the same ones that have already developed smuggling channels in South Africa for illegal abalone or rhinoceros…
Cape Town - A foreign national is expected to appear in the Bellville Magistrate's Court on Wednesday after he was found in possession of abalone worth over R634 000.
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SA_2023_05_Foreign national bust with over R3 million abalone in Cape Town_IOL.pdf | 304.79 KB |
Two Mozambicans have been arrested in Mchinji after being found with a Pangolin. Public relations officer for Mchinji Police Station Limbani Mpinganjira has identified the two as Jackson Yakobe, 40, and Selemani Felix, 46. They were arrested on May 26, 2023 at around 7:00pm after officers from Department of Wildlife and Parks tipped Kamwendo Police that the two were offering for sale a live pangolin at Kadziyang’ane Trading Centre. Upon interrogations, the suspects revealed that the animal was taken from Mozambique and they were searching for a possible market in…
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MAL_2023_05_Two Mozambicans found with pangolin in Malawi_Malawi24.pdf | 610.85 KB |
The suspect is allegedly linked to a series of cases including murder, racketeering and rhino poaching committed in Mpumalanga. An alleged kingpin of a rhino poaching syndicate is due to appear in the Hoedspruit Periodical Court in Limpopo on Monday after he was arrested at the weekend. The 59-year-old man, who is alleged to be a kingpin of a rhino poaching syndicate that operates between Mpumalanga and Limpopo, was arrested on Saturday in the Mopani District of Limpopo during a joint intelligence operation conducted by the Provincial Stock Theft Unit, Hoedspruit police…
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SA_2023_05_Police nab alleged rhino poaching kingpin in Limpopo_The Citizen.pdf | 428.78 KB |
Pretoria - A man was arrested in Limpopo for possession of a pangolin, valued at R150 000, while he was on his way to sell the endangered animal.
The non-profit called on Nigerians to protect Nigeria's endangered species while urging the federal government to pass the Endangered Species Conservation and Protection Bill as the world marks Endangered Species Day, an annual event to celebrate and take action to protect threatened and endangered species. Nigeria is home to numerous wild animals such as pangolins, lions, chimpanzees, elephants, gorillas, vultures, manatees, and parrots.
A 51-year-old man is expected to appear in a Free State court after he was found with abalone shells worth more than R300,000. The man was arrested in Bayswater in Mangaung on Thursday afternoon after intelligence-led information led police to his home, Free State police spokesperson Lt-Col Thabo Covane said. "A team made up of tactical response team members and detectives arrived at the targeted unit in the identified complex at about 12.45pm." Members tactically gained access to the unit and found the male hiding inside the bedroom.
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SA_2023_05_Man arrested in Free State with 782 abalone shells worth R300K_TimesLive.pdf | 222.56 KB |
Government is working around the clock to fight wildlife crime and corruption, especially in the Kruger National Park, says Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister, Barbara Creecy.
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SA_2023_05_Work underway to fight wildlife crime_Bizzcommunity.pdf | 345.25 KB |
Hidden in the boot inside a bag, police found a pangolin estimated to be worth R150 000. In a collaborative operation involving the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation and other enforcement agencies, police arrested a 59-year-old suspected pangolin dealer in Gravelotte, near Tzaneen, on Wednesday, 17 May 2023.
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SA_2023_05_Suspected pangolin trafficker arrested in Gravelotte_The Citizen.pdf | 309.83 KB |
Ten suspects arrested for allegedly running an illegal perlemoen operation appeared in the Gqeberha magistrate’s court on Monday. Acting on a tip-off, the Hawks' Economic Protected Resources team in Gqeberha followed up on information about perlemoen activities at a residential premises in Algoa Park. Surveillance was conducted and law enforcement was granted a warrant to execute a search on Thursday last week, leading to the discovery of an alleged illegal operation.
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SA_2023_05_Ten in court for possession of perlemoen_Herald Live.pdf | 290.01 KB |
Die Verdächtigen sollen versucht haben, zu Fuß in verschiedene Richtungen zu fliehen, und dabei sollen Warnschüsse abgegeben worden sein. Einer der Schüsse soll einen der Verdächtigen getroffen haben. Er wurde ins Krankenhaus gebracht, und die Polizei beschlagnahmte die Elefantenstoßzähne, die die Verdächtigen angeblich gewildert hatten.
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NAM_2023_05_Mutmasslicher Wilderer mit Schuss ins Bein_Allgemeine Zeitung.pdf | 339.93 KB |
NAM_2023_Suspected poacher shot in the leg_Allgemeine Zeitung_Eng.pdf | 321.46 KB |
A charge of attempted murder has been reported to the police after a man was allegedly shot in the leg when police and conservation officers pursued three suspects. The suspects reportedly attempted to escape on foot in various directions, and warning shots were apparently fired in the process. One of the shots apparently hit one of the suspects. He was taken to the hospital, and the police seized the elephant tusks that the suspects allegedly poached.
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NAM_2023_05_Alleged poached shot in leg_Namibian Sun.pdf | 300.38 KB |
'n Klag van poging tot moord is by die polisie aangemeld ná 'n man glo in die been geskiet is toe polisieen bewaringsbeamptes van die omgewingsministerie drie verdagtes agtervolg het. Die verdagtes het glo in verskeie rigtings te voet probeer wegkom en in die proses is waarskuwingskote glo afgevuur. Een van die skoté het klaarblyklik een van die verdagtes getref. Hy is na die hospitaal geneem en polisie het beslag gelê op die olifanttande wat die verdagtes glo gestroop het.
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NAM_2023_05_Vermeende stroper in been geskiet_Republikein.pdf | 359.99 KB |
NAM_2023_05_Suspected poacher shot in the leg_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 354.69 KB |
Two men in Victoria Falls, Matabeleland North province have been arrested after police found them with a pair of elephant tusks on Thursday.
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ZIM_2023_05_Pair nabbed with elephant tusks_The Chronicle.pdf | 144.1 KB |
Three poachers who were ambushed on the western edge of Etosha National Park on Wednesday have evaded capture by the Namibian police stationed there. According to Naftal Lungameni Sakaria, the Police Gold Commander at Etosha, the criminals managed to escape before they could be apprehended. However, Sakaria said that the poachers left behind their identification cards and equipment.
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NAM_2023_05_Three individuals wanted for poaching activities in Etosha_Informante.pdf | 123.06 KB |
"There are conservation policies in the Ministry that deal with those illegal actions of poaching. Rhinos are protected by the Controlled Wildlife Products and Trade Act Nine (9) of 2008, which still contains penalties widely viewed as being woefully inadequate in light of the value of the illegal trade in animal products such as elephant tusks, rhino horn and pangolin scales", Muyunda stressed.
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NAM_2023_05_Killing of rhinos remains illegal_Windhoek Observer.pdf | 274.48 KB |
The tusks had a street value of more than Sh8 million, officials said In Summary: Despite a ban on the international trade in ivory, African elephants are still being poached in large numbers; As part of efforts to stop the crime, Kenya has started using high-tech surveillance equipment including drones to track poaching gangs. Two men including a Tanzanian national were arrested while transporting 81.7 kilograms of elephant tusks in Mukaa area, Makueni County.
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KEN_2023_05_Tanzanian among 2 arrested with 81 kilos of elephant tusks in Makueni_The Star.pdf | 366.1 KB |
The Namibian police in the Omusati Region are seeking to arrest a known suspect who allegedly shot and killed an elephant on Sunday in the Onamwege village in the Ruacana constituency. The suspect is wanted for several criminal charges, including violating the Nature Conservation Ordinance 4 of 1975, as amended, and the Arms and Ammunition Act 7 of 1996. According to reports, the suspect killed the elephant without a permit using a 303 rifle and ammunition for which he has no license.
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NAM_2023_05_Man wanted for illegal hunting of elephant near Ruacana_Informante.pdf | 57.77 KB |
Altesaam 15 renosters is vanjaar gestroop, teenoor 87 in 2022 en 45 in 2021. Die laaste renoster is tussen 1 en 28 April op 'n private plaas in die Grootfontein-omgewing gestroop. Die karkas is eers verlede week ontdek en die ondersoek dui daarop dat die dier twee keer met 'n jaggeweer geskiet is.
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NAM_Vyftien renosters vanjaar gestroop_Republikein.pdf | 365.73 KB |
NAM_2023_05_Fifteen rhinos poached this year_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 362.22 KB |
The Zambezi regional police need the public's assistance to arrest the suspects behind the killing of a hippopotamus, valued at N$100 000. Speaking to The Namibian on Tuesday, police regional spokesperson inspector Kisco Sitali said they are investigating a case of hunting of a specially protected animal in the Sikunga conservancy, after a dead hippo was found floating in the Zambezi River near Mubala Lodge around 10H00 on Friday.
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NAM_2023_05_Zambezi police searching for suspected hippo poachers at Kalimbeza_The Namibian.pdf | 157.06 KB |
An alleged rhino poacher, who has been on the run from authorities since 2019, was rearrested in KaBokweni.
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SA_2023_05_Wanted rhino poaching suspect arrested in KaBokweni_Lowvelder.pdf | 283.48 KB |
In diesem Jahr wurden bisher fünfzehn Nashörner gewildert, verglichen mit 77 im Jahr 2022 und 45 im Jahr 2021. Beim jüngsten Vorfall wurde ein Spitzmaulnashorn zwischen dem 1. und 28. April auf einer privaten Farm bei Grootfontein gewildert. Der Nashornkadaver wurde offenbar erst in der vergangenen Woche entdeckt. Untersuchungen deuten darauf hin, dass das Tier zweimal mit einem Jagdgewehr geschossen wurde. Der Sprecher des Umweltministeriums, Romeo Muyunda, bestätigte den Vorfall und erklärte, dass die Ermittlungen noch andauern und es noch keine Verhaftungen gegeben habe.
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NAM_2023_05_Fuenfzehn Nashoerner bisher Gewildert_Allgemeine Zeitung.pdf | 338.01 KB |
NAM_2023_05_Fifteen rhinos poached so far_Allgemeine Zeitung_Eng.pdf | 334.96 KB |
Cape Town - The Oudtshoorn stock theft and endangered species unit is investigating a case of illegal hunting of endangered species after a rhino horn was seized by police on the N2 near George on Wednesday. Following a high-speed pursuit with police, a car reportedly stopped just outside of George and dumped a package containing a rhino horn.
The Otjozondjupa police have launched an investigation into a poaching incident of a black rhino bull which was allegedly shot and killed on a private game farm near Otjituuo in the Grootfontein district.Namibian Police Force Unit Commander for Communication. The Otjozondjupa police have launched an investigation into a poaching incident of a black rhino bull which was allegedly shot and killed on a private game farm near Otjituuo in the Grootfontein district.
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NAM_2023_05_Rhino bull killed and dehorned by poachers near Otjituuo_Namibia News Digest.pdf | 225.66 KB |
George Herald's sister publication, Mossel Bay Advertiser, confirmed that it is the horn of one of the white rhinos at Botlierskop Private Game Reserve. The reserve is situated just outside Little Brak River. According to a source close to George Herald, the suspects were stopped at a roadblock between George and Wilderness where the rhino horn was found in their possession. The horn was confiscated but the suspects managed to flee from police. By the time of going to print on Wednesday morning, the suspects were still at large and
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SA_2023_05_Rhino poaching at local game reserve_George Herald.pdf | 441.9 KB |
Day three of the rhino poaching trial involving alleged 'kingpin' Dumisani Gwala and his co-accused Wiseman Mageba is under way at Mtubatuba Regional Court, following cross-examination of the State witness yesterday (Wednesday). Magistrate Anand Maharaj, presiding over the case, on Wednesday cautioned State witness - former SAPS investigating officer of the case Jean Pierre van zyl Roux - about speculating about allegations that Gwala had the 'police in his pocket'.
The rhino poaching trial in which Wiseman Mageba and Dumisani Gwala are co-accused was today (Thursday) adjourned to July owing to the State prosecutor’s unavailability because of a family tragedy.
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SA_2023_05_Rhino poaching kingpin_Trial adjourned_accuseds bail condition waived_Zululand Observer.pdf | 194.54 KB |
Police in Zambezi region are investigating a case of hunting of specially protected game and theft of elephant tusks after a decomposed elephant was discovered. It is alleged that unknown suspect(s) poached and killed an elephant, and removed its tusks between 16 to 22 April 2023 near Dzudzo farming area in Dzoti conservancy of Zambezi region. "A decomposed carcass was recovered at Dzudzo area on Friday, 28 April 2023 and it seemed to have been killed two weeks back from the date of recovery. The elephant is valued at N$29 000," the police said no arrest has been made yet.
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NAM_2023_05_Elephant killed_tusks removed_New Era.pdf | 262.14 KB |
Collaboration between SAPS Cookhouse and Graaff-Reinet members saw the arrest of two men in connection with the discovery of abalone worth over R3 million on Tuesday night. Police spokesperson Priscilla Naidu said at about 7pm, SAPS Cookhouse highway patrol members received information of a blue Toyota Camry and a Porsche Cayenne pulling a trailer, travelling on the R75 from Kariega towards Graaff-Reinet with illegal abalone.
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SA_2023_05_Not gone fishing_gone to jail_ Two held over abalone poaching_IOL.pdf | 151.8 KB |
Seven suspects were arrested last month in connection with wildlife crimes, with four fake rhino horns amongst products seized by the police. This according to the latest wildlife crime statistics report issued by the police and the environment ministry. Three newly registered wildlife crime cases were reported.
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NAM_2023_05_Seven arrested for wildlife crimes_Namibian Sun.pdf | 312.91 KB |
Wiseman Mageba and his co-accused Dumisani Gwala have pleaded not guilty to rhino
poaching allegations in a case which resumed at Mtubatuba Regional Court today
(Tuesday). The pair face a combined 12 charges relating to the alleged illegal purchase and possession
of rhino horn, resisting arrest, and attempted murder.
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SA_2023_05_Mtubatuba rhino poaching accused plead not guilty_Zululandobserver.pdf | 192.3 KB |
In the decade following possibly one of the worst poaching incidents in Southern Africa, which left at least 300 dead after poachers laced watering holes and salt licks with cyanide, crimes against wildlife have drastically declined in Zimbabwe's largest national park. Investigations conducted by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) revealed that the deaths were due to cyanide poisoning. The horrendous crime, which made international headlines in 2013, led to the deaths of an estimated 300 elephants and is believed to…
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ZIM_2023_05_Elephant poaching down in Zimbabwe reserve_IFAW.pdf | 56.35 KB |
Limpopo - The Bela-Bela Magistrate’s court last week granted bail to a Vietnamese national who was arrested earlier this month on charges related to the illegal trade of wildlife. According to Mashudu Malabi Dzhangi, the regional spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority the accused in the case, Guyen van Phong, was granted R10 000 bail and is expected to reappear on November 30. Phong was apprehended on August 12 in Bela-Bela after a four-month investigation by the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) into the illegal trade of wildlife in the…
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SA_2021_08_Limpopo man nabbed with lion teeth and claws granted bail_Review Online.pdf | 584.06 KB |
Three suspects arrested on poaching charges near Otavi last week were remanded in custody by the Otavi magistrate's court. The three were arrested on a gravel road near the Ohorongo Cement factory on Tuesday. They were found in possession of a silencer, ammunition, one hunting rifle, a knife and a machete. They were suspected to have been on a rhino poaching mission at a nearby farm.
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NAM_2021_08_Accused poachers remanded at Otavi_Namibian Sun.pdf | 340.71 KB |
Die drie mans het verlede week hul eerste hofverskyning gemaak nadat hulle op 'n gruispad naby Ohorongo Cement in besit van 'n knaldemper, lewendige ammunisie, 'n jaggeweer, swaarkaliber-ammunisie, 'n mes en 'n panga betrap is. Die vermoede is dat hulle onderweg was om renosters op 'n nabygeleë plaas te stroop.
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NAM_2021_08_Beweerde stropers bly in aanhouding_Republikein.pdf | 340.51 KB |
NAM_2021_08_Alleged poachers remain in custody_Republikein_Eng.pdf | 341.23 KB |
Der Prozess gegen drei der Wilderei beschuldigten Männer in Otavi hat begonnen. Die Namibier zwischen 32 und 51 Jahren waren vergangene Woche nahe Ohorongo festgenommen worden, weil sie sich vermutlich, so die Anklage, auf einer Wildereimission befaden. Sie waren in Besitz eines Schalldämpfers, einer Jagdwaffe, schwerer Munition, eines Messers und einer Machete. Angeblich sollen sie versucht haben, auf einer nahegelegenen Farm Nashörner zu wildern.
Data on wildlife crime in Southern Africa isn't easy to obtain, despite legislation in several countries guaranteeing access to information that is in the public interest.
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Oxpeckers_2021_08_Using the law to access wildlife crime data_Oxpeckers.pdf | 707.46 KB |
A Harare man who, resides at the Presidential Guard Brigade, appeared at the Harare Magistrates Court charged with unlawful possession of a live pangolin.
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SA_2021_08_Man in court for possession of pangolin_News day.pdf | 210.44 KB |
A group of self-proclaimed reformed poachers in the districts of Rukungiri, Mitooma and Kanungu have cried out to government demanding income-generating projects. Members constituting the group are from areas neighbouring Queen Elizabeth National Game Park in Bwambara Sub- County, Rukungiri District, Kiyanga Sub-County, Mitooma District and Kanungu District. They say "life is becoming harder unlike when they used to poach."
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UGA_2021_08_Reformed poachers cry out for help_allAfrica_com.pdf | 87.3 KB |
Investigations by the Centre for Natural Resource Governance (CNRG) have revealed Zimbabwe is now a major transit route for smuggling of valuable but critically endangered shell fish, abalone, to China and other countries.
An illegal abalone dealer has been declared an undesirable person in SA after his conviction on a slew of charges.
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SA_2021_08_Illegal abalone dealer jailed and declared an undesirable person_TimesLive.pdf | 334.71 KB |
Free State police are on the hunt for poachers who killed and dehorned two white rhinos and injured a third at a farm in Steynsrus. Police spokesperson Brigadier Motantsi Makhele said a case of rhino poaching was registered in terms of Section 57 of the Bioversity Act 10 of 2004 "after two rhino bulls were killed and one injured in Geduldfontein Farm". "The value of the two killed rhino bulls is R800 000," Makhele added.
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SA_2021_08_Poachers kill and dehorn two white rhinos on Free State farm_injure a third_News24.pdf | 320.73 KB |
Drei Männer, die verdächtigt werden, Nashornwilderer zu sein, wurden am Dienstagnachmittag in der Nähe von Otavi in der Otjozondjupa-Region verhaftet. Laut Polizeisprecherin der Otjozondjupa-Region, Inspektorin Maureen Mbeha, wurde ein Jagdgewehr mit einem Teleskop und einem Schalldämpfer in einem Kleinwagen gefunden, in der das Trio auf einer Schotterstraße nördlich von Otavi unterwegs war. Acht scharfe Munition, eine Panga und ein Messer wurden ebenfalls gefunden, so Mbeha.
Some anti-poaching organizations are calling upon the justice system to strengthen punishment against those found guilty of rhino poaching and rhino horn trafficking. This comes after the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment recently released statistics indicating that rhino poaching incidents committed in the country within the first six months of the year have increased by 33% compared to last year, during the same period. Nature conservationists say the rhino is among the endangered species, not only in South Africa and the African continent but across the…
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SA_2021_08_Anti_poaching bodies call for stricter sentences for rhino poachers_SABC News.pdf | 1.58 MB |
Die namibische Polizei hat in der Omusati-Region einen 28-Jährigen festgenommen, der ein lebendiges Schuppentier mit sich führte. Laut dem Polizeibericht trug er ihn in einer gelben Plastiktüte und versuchte, ihn an einen Polizeibeamten zu verkaufen, der verdeckt unterwegs war. Der Verdächtige soll außerdem Geld im Wert von 3 102 N$ an sich gehabt haben, das er unrechtmäßig erworben haben soll. Er befindet sich in der Polizeistation von Ruacana und wird am Montag vor Gericht gestellt. Derweil enthält der Bericht auch Informationen über Vorfälle von Viehdiebstahl.
Some 125 people have been arrested for rhino poaching and rhino horn trafficking across the country in the past six months. According to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment while the national lockdowns curbed the movement of people to halt the spread of Covid-19 in 2020 contributed to a decrease in rhino poaching, however the lifting of the stringent lockdown regulations appears to have seen an increase in rhino poaching in the first six months of 2021.
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SA_2021_08_249 rhino poached in first six months of 2021_South Coast Herald.pdf | 417.22 KB |
The Nigeria Customs Service (NSC) recently announced the seizure of huge wildlife products including elephant tusks and other endangered species. And in Lagos, among some wealthy people, no party is complete without a display and barbecue of some protected animals, as seen in some trending videos on social media. It should worry the authorities that our country is fast becoming a huge jungle.
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NIG_2021_08_ Combating Crime Against Wild Life_allAfrica_com.pdf | 126.51 KB |