Search results

Tiny plants in plastic pots, each carefully labeled, cram a South African greenhouse. Each is the evidence of at least one crime. These are strange plants without typical stems or leaves. Some look like greenish thumb-tips, others like grapes or rounded stones. Some sprout small, bright flowers. Few are more than an inch tall. I've agreed not to disclose this location because the plants, confiscated from poachers and smugglers, are valuable and could be re-stolen by the same criminal networks that first dug them from their natural habitats to traffic overseas.

Chinese businesswoman and property mogul, Qiaoxa Stina Wu, has said that she is not aware of any criminal investigation being carried out against herself or business partner Charlie Xie, after a seal genital cargo of 20 kilos was flagged in Hong Kong, China, after being exported from Namibia without the relevant export documents for listed species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). It is further reported that the cargo was undervalued to evade tax and that the true nature of the cargo was concealed.

With rising cases of human-wildlife conflict across Namibia, a recent report has recommended that the Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism introduce annual culling of problematic wildlife in all regions. This measure, determined by each region's carrying capacity, aims to reduce conflicts and safeguard both human lives and livelihoods. This recommendation is part of a report by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Natural Resources on the Motion on Human-Wildlife Conflict.

The general director of Mozambique’s National Administration of Conservation Areas (ANAC), Pejul Calenga, believes that poaching in the country is now virtually under control. "10 or 15 years ago, we were losing between 1,000 and 1,500 elephants every year", said Calenga, interviewed by Radio Mozambique on Monday. "But currently the losses are less than 100 a year". He added that, in some conservation areas, there had been no deaths at all of elephants at the hands of poachers for two consecutive years.

Influential Chinese businesswoman Qiaoxia 'Stina' Wu is under investigation for allegedly attempting to smuggle seal genitals from Namibia to China in December. The shipment, which was not accompanied by the proper documentation, was discovered to be undervalued. Chinese authorities in Hong Kong had flagged the shipment and alerted Namibia that suspicious cargo from Namibia, not accompanied by the relevant Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites) documentation, had been intercepted.

Spanning three countries, the vast W-Arly-Pendjari Complex is being used to facilitate organised crime, terrorism and local conflicts. The W-Arly-Pendjari (WAP) Complex is a vast wildlife sanctuary spanning the intersecting borders of Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger. With one of the most diverse ecosystems in West Africa's savanna belt, it is a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage Site and shelters threatened species such as cheetah, giraffe, wild dog, elephant, lion and leopard.

On 31 December 2017, the ban on legal ivory trade in China, which represents the world's largest market for ivory, finally came into effect! This is the greatest single step toward reducing the brutal poaching which kills on average 100 elephants every day in Africa. Until recently South Africa had escaped ivory poachers trying to cash-in on the illicit global trade, which is estimated to be worth more than one billion dollars.

Environmental conservation organisation, EMS Foundation, wants the government to permanently ban the trade of lion bones in South Africa. The foundation's director, Michele Pickover, says their study shows that the lion bone sale is linked to the Asian big cat market operated by syndicates without permits. The foundation will be a friend of the court to oppose the application by the South African Predators Association (SAPA) to force the Environmental Department to allow them a quota to trade in lion bones.

Surveying elephants is hard, risky work. Dedicated biologists have been doing this challenging task across Africa for decades. Systematic surveying started in the late 1960s but has been sporadic, as access to remote areas takes logistical planning, funding and well-trained teams. Surveys can easily be derailed by civil unrest or lack of available survey teams. Consequently, the information on the numbers of elephants across Africa is spotty. Even for a single population, survey effort and coverage can change over the years.

"Controlled trade in rhino horn should be permitted". The Wildlife Vets Namibia team recently dehorned rhinos from the Rhino Momma project. According to Wildlife Vets, the CITES ban on the trade in rhino horn has caused a rhino to be worth more dead than alive.

Snaring in the Kruger National Park has spiked dramatically and poachers are profiting from the growing demand of bush meat. The laying of snares to trap wild animals whose meat is used not only to eat, but also by sangomas as muthi, has become a huge concern. Rangers and honorary rangers have their hands full in finding and removing these snares. Skukuza section ranger, Kally Ubisi, told of a recent incident in which a pregnant giraffe was found with a snare around her neck. While this animal was saved, most others are not so fortunate. A new problem has now reared its ugly head…

Just a few days after World Pangolin Day, the Pangolin Conservation & Research Foundation (PCRF) has once again drawn attention to the devastating situation of pangolins in Namibia in an urgent appeal. On Pangolin Day itself, February 15, a Namibian pangolin fell victim to an electric fence - "just one of countless silent deaths that go unnoticed. This pangolin survived the illegal wildlife trade, only to be killed by another human-made threat," said PCRF Director Kelsey Prediger. Since 2018, 570 pangolins have been killed by poaching in Namibia alone (AZ reported).

A 36-YEAR-OLD man was arrested at Oromauua village near Etosha National Park on Friday for conspiracy to commit a crime and hunting specially protected game without a permit. According to the police, the arrest came after the suspect, who was driving a white Toyota Hilux GD6 Double Cab with three passengers, failed to stop at a mobile roadblock set up by Anti-Poaching members at Oromauua village. The police later intercepted the vehicle at Werda Police Station and discovered that there was only one occupant (the driver) in the vehicle.

Harare - Two Chinese nationals, Lin Wang and Fuxi Wang, have been arrested for allegedly attempting to smuggle rhino horns worth a combined US$480,000 out of Zimbabwe through Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare. The illicit wildlife contraband was concealed inside sculptures, including a plastic owl, and intercepted by authorities following a series of investigations and surveillance operations.

A total of 77 suspects arrested, but no word is said about how many have already been tried, and what the sentences are. This leaves no doubt that cases are still in the investigation stages, and it leaves no doubt that cases will drag on for days to come. Bringing a case to court and having it successfully tried is supposed to be the pride of any detective/investigator. It breaks my heart to see no positive reporting, with the amount of settled/conviction cases' feedback.

Namibia has experienced one of the worst years of rhino poaching in over ten years, with 81 rhinos illegally killed in 2024. Authorities arrested 77 suspects for rhinorelated crimes, 73 of whom were Namibian nationals. According to the document, which was presented at the meeting of the Standing Committee of the United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in Geneva, Switzerland, the country's poaching crisis peaked in 2015 with 97 rhinos killed, followed by 84 cases in 2018 and 94 rhinos poached in 2022.

The Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism is developing a National Species Management Plan to bolster pangolin conservation efforts and combat illegal trafficking. The plan, being created in collaboration with the Namibian Pangolin Working Group, is expected to be released in 2025. The Ministry announced the initiative over the weekend, underscoring its commitment to protecting the species from poaching and habitat loss. Since 2018, at least 570 pangolins have been poached in documented cases, ministerial spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said in a statement.

A Total of 570 pangolins have been poached in Namibia since 2018. This was revealed by Ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda, who said that the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism remains dedicated to protecting the nation's pangolins. According to Muyunda, there is an urgent need to combat threats such as habitat loss and illegal trafficking.

The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism says 570 pangolins have been poached in Namibia since 2018. In a media statement to celebrate World Pangolin Day on Saturday, ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said the ministry has reaffirmed its dedication to protecting the nation's pangolins, highlighting their ecological importance and the urgent need to combat threats such as habitat loss and illegal trafficking.

Three men have been arrested for illegal logging in the West Bugwe Central Forest Reserve, Busia district. The National Forestry Authority (NFA) apprehended Kennedy Yolya, Henry Mudambo, and Robert Mudambo, aged between 35 and 50, for cutting down immature hardwood trees in a protected area. According to Michael Kusoro, NFA's Kyoga Range Manager, the trio was caught in the act of felling 17 mature indigenous trees, including species such as Albizia, Combretum, and Vitex doniana.

In the largest ever wildlife and forestry operation, 138 countries and regions joined forces to apprehend wildlife smugglers. INTERPOL has led an operation seizing 20,000 protected or endangered animals in a global wildlife trafficking sting. Criminal networks were smuggling the live animals across borders to sell for uses such as specialty food and traditional medicine. Led by INTERPOL and the World Customs Organization (WCO), the multinational campaign known as Operation Thunder 2024 involved enforcement agencies from 138 countries and regions and led to the arrest of 365…

A large part of his work involves removing snares from wildlife, and "sadly, incidents of snaring have been increasing across Kruger in recent years, especially since the Covid-19 pandemic", he wrote in South African National Parks (SANParks) 2023/2024 research report. The use of tracking collars - which send alerts either when animals enter identified snaring hotspot areas or have been stationary for a certain period - has recently become an important tool in managing endangered species such as wild dogs.

Another two rhinos were killed and their horns cut off and thus despite the efforts of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife’s attempts to dehorn rhinos in KZN as quickly as possible to try and curb the bloodlust killings of rhinos for their horns. The two rhinos were killed in the Pongola area, the exact location of the poaching is known the Vryheid Herald but due to safety reasons will not be disclosed. On January 28 there were reports of shots that were fired in a game reserve. Police together with several other security entities swept the area and found two rhino carcasses without their…

The battle between mining and conservation tourism rages on in the dry rocky plains of the Sorris Sorris Conservation Area, the High Court in Windhoek and in the boardroom of the Namibian Competition Commission (NaCC). At stake are promising tin deposits that could mean big bucks from increasing global demand, as opposed to preserving the natural beauty of the area where the endangered black rhinos roam. Community-driven tourism and their private-sector partners strive to keep their symbiotic relationship with the rhinos alive. "Get rid of us and the rhinos are gone with the…

Environment minister Pohamba Shifeta has confirmed that a large tree that was felled last year in Helao Nafidi in the Ohangwena Region was used by criminals to conduct illegal activities. However, he emphasised that harming natural resources should always be a last resort. He urged law enforcement agencies to explore alternative methods of managing crime, rather than resorting to environmental damage. "At this stage the ministry is still investigating if this was part of the preventative measure or if it was simply an oversight on the part of the town council.

A South African court in January sentenced four poachers to several years in prison for two separate crimes committed in Kruger National Park (KNP). The Skukuza Regional Court, which in the past has boasted a near-100% conviction rate and under whose jurisdiction KNP falls, held two South African citizens, Sam Khosa and Solly Selahle, and a Mozambican named Oddis Maluleke, guilty of poaching a rhino and taking its horns in February 2019.

Ten endangered flamingos have been saved after smugglers were caught trying to traffic them out of Tunisia, according to the country's customs body. Photos of the birds crammed into crates with their wings, legs and torsos bound up were posted by the force online. The flamingos were rescued close to the Algerian border on Sunday, having been "loaded onto a lorry bearing a Tunisian registration plate", officials said in a statement. The birds have now been safely returned to their natural habitat, officials added, "as part of efforts to preserve the species".

The Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism has taken a significant step in combating wildlife crime by establishing specialized Environmental Crimes Courts (ECCs) in strategic locations across the country. Ministry spokesperson Romeo Muyunda said that they successfully held special courts in Oshakati, Rundu, and Katima Mulilo, each tasked with addressing the growing threat to Namibia’s precious wildlife.

The establishment of a first-of-its-kind specialised Environmental Crimes Court in Otjiwarongo has made notable progress in adjudicating wildlife-related crime cases since it began operations at the start of the year. Romeo Muyunda, spokesperson for the environment ministry, said the development of the court required careful planning among key government stakeholders, including the Office of the Prosecutor General, the justice ministry and the judiciary.

The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) has expressed satisfaction with the progress made in establishing the District Court for Environmental Crimes in Otjiwarongo. According to a press release from MEFT press officer, Romeo Muyunda, this initiative is part of the national wildlife conservation strategy agreed by stakeholders to support the fight against wildlife crime. "The court focuses on environmental crime cases and will expedite the processing of wildlife cases, which we believe will help prevent wildlife crime," it says.

The Ministry of Environment, Forestry, and Tourism (MEFT) has expressed satisfaction with the establishment and the progress made in adjudicating cases thanks to its first-of-its-kind specialized Environmental Crimes Court (ECC) in Otjiwarongo, Ministerial spokesperson, Romeo Muyunda in a statement highlighted the collaborative effort between the Office of the Prosecutor General, the Ministry of Justice, and the Judiciary in establishing the ECC.

Scientists are testing a novel technique to deter poachers targeting endangered rhinoceros for their prized horns. As part of a pilot study in South Africa, researchers have injected small, radioactive pellets into the horns of live rhinos. The goal is to make the horns radioactive so there is less demand for them on the black market. About 20 rhinoceroses have been selected for the pilot study dubbed the Rhisotope Project. Among the tests is examining the rhinos' blood to ensure the animals are not being harmed.

As a source country, transit point, and final destination for animal products, Vietnam is a central actor in the global fight against wildlife trafficking. But for years, the CITES Secretariat has reprimanded Vietnam for not doing enough to combat and dismantle criminal wildlife trade networks that poach and trade wildlife, a major threat to biodiversity and endangered species.

Lyon, France - Nearly 20,000 live animals, all endangered or protected species, have been seized in a global operation against wildlife and forestry trafficking networks, jointly coordinated by INTERPOL and the World Customs Organization (WCO). Operation Thunder 2024 (11 November - 6 December) brought together police, customs, border control, forestry and wildlife officials from 138 countries and regions, marking the widest participation since the first edition in 2017.

More than a week after the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources announced a N$10 000 reward for information regarding the deliberate killing of Cape Cormorants near Henties Bay, no leads have emerged. The ministry's spokesperson, Uaripi Katjiukua, confirmed on Thursday that not a single member of the public has come forward with vital information. "We are, however, confident that some information will be forthcoming and that we will be able to initiate a criminal investigation soon," she said.

The global demand for ivory is driving heavily armed poachers from Chad and Sudan into Cameroon's Bouba Ndjida National Park. two decades, the Monitoring the Illegal Killing of Elephants programme has recorded 3,004 elephants illegally killed in this region. In April 2023, several were killed in Chad’s Beinamar area, close to the Cameroon border, sparking concerns about a potential resurgence of poaching. The Bouba Ndjida National Park in Cameroon’s North Region shares a border with the Sena Oura Biosphere Reserve in Chad.

Two police officers have been arrested while in possession of Sh4.9 million worth of ivory tusks in Athi River, Machakos county. The duo, according to police, was nabbed along the Nairobi–Mombasa highway within Kyumbi Township. The matter was reported to Kyumbi police station as the arrest of police officers. Police said the officers were arrested by their two colleagues. “The KWS officers both of KWS headquarters, Nairobi, acting on a tip managed to arrest the officers.

A new investigation by wildlife trade monitoring group TRAFFIC has uncovered an "alarming" slew of online adverts offering illegal wildlife products for sale in Vietnam, despite pledges from multiple platforms to clamp down on such content. The report, based on monitoring of social media groups and e-commerce platforms in Vietnam between June 2021 and July 2023, focuses on items made from body parts of elephants, rhinos, pangolins, tigers, tortoises and freshwater turtles.

When people think of wildlife trade, they often picture smugglers sneaking in rare and endangered species from far-off countries. Yet most wildlife trade is actually legal, and the United States is one of the world's biggest wildlife importers. New research that we and a team of colleagues published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shows that, over the last 22 years, people in the U.S. legally imported nearly 2.85 billion individual animals representing almost 30,000 species.

UK trade in ivory from hippos, narwhals, orcas and sperm whales has been banned as part of conservation efforts, the Government has said. The Ivory Act, introduced to protect elephants, has been extended to ban the importing, exporting and dealing in items containing ivory from the four species, the Environment Department (Defra) said. People breaking the rules by trading in ivory – found in teeth and tusks - from the species could face an unlimited fine or up to five years in jail.

Johannesburg - SANParks is welcoming hefty sentences handed to rhino poachers by the Skukuza Regional Court. Four men, including a former field ranger, were arrested in Skukuza in 2019 following a tip-off. Poaching equipment and a set of rhino horns were seized.

Police have commended the sentencing of three wildlife poachers, who have been found guilty of a number of serious crimes by the Skukuza Regional Court. Two South African citizens, Sam Khosa (40) and Solly Bennett Selahle (30), and Mozambican national, Oddis Maluleke (46), were sentenced by the court on Friday, 24 January. During proceedings, the court heard that on Friday, 15 February 2019, a regional field ranger observed suspicious activity inside the Kruger National Park (KNP) involving the accused individuals.

A group of highly endangered black rhinos is protected until 6 March to be peacefully protected by the conservation areas - Sorris Sorris, Uibasen Twyfelfontein and Doro ! Nawas - to walk. Then the court dispute will proceed to determine whether mining operations may continue in this area. Acting High Court Judge Anne-Doris Hans-Kaumbi ordered on Tuesday that the trial over planned open-pit tin mines in the area will not proceed until March. Until then, interdicts against further development of any new mining operations in the area remain in force.

Bangkok: More than a hundred baby tortoises, most of them dead, have been returned to Tanzania from Thailand as evidence in a case against a wildlife smuggling network, the international police organisation Interpol said Friday.

Vietnam's apparent reluctance to share DNA samples of smuggled horns with South Africa - the country with the largest remaining populations of rhinos in the world, albeit decimated by a relentless wave of poaching over recent decades - has been criticised by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).