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Namibian Wildlife Crimes article archive

This archive of published media articles about wildlife crime in Namibia aims to:

  • provide easy public access to published information and statistics
  • enable easy stakeholder access to articles
  • provide a comprehensive archive of wildlife crime reporting in Namibia

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.

Displaying results 1 - 38 of 38
Wednesday, 27 March 2024
Amutenja H-M 2024. Three NDF members arrested for poaching in Mangetti National Park.

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.

Wednesday, 27 March 2024
Moser K 2024. Wildstropers se Nemesis.

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.

Wednesday, 27 March 2024
Moser K 2024. NWP ernstig oor bewaring.
Namibia Wildlife Protection se veldwagters ontvang opleiding in onder meer die hantering van wapens, taktiese bewegings en spoorsny. Namibia Wildlife Protection rangers receive training in, amongst others, weapons handling, tactical movements and tracking.
Wednesday, 27 March 2024
Mpaka C 2024. Large ivory seizure in Mozambique comes amid worrying signs of increasing elephant poaching.

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.

Monday, 25 March 2024
Steynberg F 2024. Two jailed for possessing live Pangolin in Balaka.
The Senior Resident Magistrate’s Court sitting in Balaka district-Malawi has convicted and sentenced two men to 30 months and 36 months imprisonment with hard labor respectively, for the offense of being found in possession of protected species (Live Pangolin) contrary to Section 86 of the National Park and Wildlife Act.
Friday, 22 March 2024
Reiter C 2024. Mensch-Elefant-Konflikt weiterhin ein Problem.
Angolanischer Mann wird bei Ruacana von Elefanten angegriffen. Angolan man attacked by elephants near Ruacana.
Wednesday, 20 March 2024
Moser K 2024. Namibia Wildlife Protection führt Anti-Wilderei-Markt an.
Die AZ hat das führende Anti-Wilderei-Unternehmen in Namibia, Namibia Wildlife Protection (NWP), begleitet, und in Erfahrung gebracht: "Es besteht eine große Nachfrage nach Anti-Wilderei-Einheiten in der namibischen Farmbranche und ein massiver Markt für Anti-Wilderei-Dienstleistungen." Das sagt Salmon Vermaak, der Gründer und Direktor von Namibia Wildlife Protection. Er entschied sich, sich auf Nashörner und Elefanten zu spezialisieren. Inzwischen beschäftigt er über 200 Ranger auf 700 000 Hektar privatem Farmland.
Wednesday, 20 March 2024
2024. Zimbabwe: Two poachers gunned down, three arrested in mid-Zambezi.

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.

Tuesday, 19 March 2024
Smit E 2024. Growing number of leopard-hunting guides arrested.

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.

Tuesday, 19 March 2024
2024. Mans betrap met beskermde plante.

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…

Tuesday, 19 March 2024
Kheibes E 2024. Three men caught with protected plants worth N$80 000.

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.

Wednesday, 13 March 2024
Steynberg F 2024. University student, accomplice jailed for possessing pangolin scales.
University student, accomplice jailed for possessing pangolin scales.
Friday, 8 March 2024
Denker H 2024. Leopardenjagd eskaliert.

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.

Thursday, 7 March 2024
Ndalikokule P 2024. Court freezes car, residential block belonging to suspected poacher Bishop Burugu.

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'.

Wednesday, 6 March 2024
2024. Growing, growing, gone: safeguarding SA's illegally traded succulents.

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.

Monday, 4 March 2024
Amutenja H-M 2024. More than 600 rhinos were poached in ten years.

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.

Monday, 4 March 2024
2024. Namibia: Deforestation and poaching threaten endangered species.

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.

Monday, 4 March 2024
Happiness L 2024. Rhino-poaching still a major concern for Namibian Government.

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.

Sunday, 3 March 2024
2024. Namibia warns of wildlife crisis due to deforestation, poaching.

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.

Wednesday, 31 January 2024
South African Police Service (SAPS) 2024. Three suspects fatally wounded in a shootout with police.

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.

Tuesday, 30 January 2024
Bloch S 2024. Police arrest six suspected rhino poachers in Limpopo and Gauteng; recover horns, guns and ammunition.

Police arrest six suspected rhino poachers in Limpopo and Gauteng; recover horns, guns and ammunition.

Tuesday, 30 January 2024
2024. Katima Mulilo Court trials for elephant tusk possession.

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.

Tuesday, 30 January 2024
2024. Three found with a live pangolin, held.

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.

Monday, 29 January 2024
2024. Harsh jail sentences way to end war on rhino poaching.

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.

Monday, 29 January 2024
Marais R 2024. Illegal perlemoen trade booming despite anti-poaching efforts.

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.

Tuesday, 23 January 2024
2024. No trade, no killing - An evaluation of China's ivory ban on elephant poaching.
The debate on whether legalization or prohibition is more effective in conserving species and curbing illicit black-market trade remains controversial, with insufficient evidence available. Here we investigate the effects of China's ivory ban on elephant poaching. We find that the enaction of the total ivory ban corresponds with a sharp 50% decrease in poaching and a significant reduction of the number of seizure cases.
Friday, 19 January 2024
2024. Mozambican national arrested for wildlife tracking: A global challenge.

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.

Friday, 19 January 2024
2024. Police arrest two men with rhino horns after highspeed car chase.

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.

Wednesday, 17 January 2024
Mangirazi N 2024. Zimbabwe: Trio arrested for poaching.
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.
Tuesday, 16 January 2024
Ombati C 2024. Policeman among two arrested with elephant tusks in Nairobi.

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.

Tuesday, 16 January 2024
Mangirazi N 2024. Trio arrested for poaching.

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.

Monday, 15 January 2024
Smit E 2024. SRT volg eenvoudige benadering tot stropery.
Save the Rhino Trust (SRT) Namibia se benadering tot renosterstropery het die konvensionele militêre styl-taktiek vir renosterbeskerming uitgedaag, wat in baie gevalle die gaping tussen plaaslike mense en renosters vererger het. Dié konvensionele taktieke teen stropery beskou en teiken plaaslike mense as deel van die probleem, het SRT in sy nuwe strategiese plan vir 2023-’28 gesê. SRT het gesê die organisasie het dus 'n uiters eenvoudige, maar doeltreffende benadering gevolg deur gerespekteerde plaaslike mense in diens te neem om hul vaardighede in te span.
Monday, 15 January 2024
Smit E 2024. SRT challenges military-style approach to poaching.
The Save the Rhino Trust (SRT) Namibia approach to rhino poaching has challenged the conventional military-style rhino protection tactics that, in many cases, exacerbate the divide between local people and rhinos. "These conventional anti-poaching regimes perceive and target local people as part of the problem," said SRT Namibia in its new strategic plan for 2023 to 2028. SRT said it has therefore taken on a highly simple but effective approach by employing local residents to harness their unrivalled skills.
Friday, 12 January 2024
Moser K 2024. Diebstähle bei Farmen um Outjo.

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.

Thursday, 11 January 2024
Smit E 2024. Nashornschutz auf andere Weise.
Konventionelle militärische Taktiken können nicht die einzige Lösung zum Schutz der Nashörner sein - davon ist der Save the Rhino Trust (SRT) Namibia überzeugt. Denn diese verschärften in vielen Fällen die Kluft zwischen der lokalen Bevölkerung und den Nashörnern nur weiter, so SRT in seinem neuen Strategieplan für 2023 bis 2028. SRT hat daher einen anderen, effektiven Ansatz gewählt, indem es lokale Einheimische einstellt, um deren einzigartigen Kenntnisse zu nutzen. Dazu gehören traditionelle Fährtenlesetechniken sowie Kenntnisse über die Landschaft und das Verhalten der Tiere.
Wednesday, 10 January 2024
Bause T 2024. Beweerde stropery in Namib-Naukluft.

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.

Friday, 5 January 2024
Bause T 2024. Venasha, die renoster blom.

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.

Tuesday, 2 January 2024
2024. Botswana, Namibia in joint elephant poaching investigation.

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.

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