Over 1 300 arrested for wildlife crimes in two years
57 rhinos poached in 2024
The wildlife crime cases over the last two years have mostly involved antelopes, pangolins, small mammals, rhinos and elephants.
In just over two years, more than 1 300 people have been arrested in connection with wildlife crimes in Namibia.
This is according to deputy commissioner Barry de Klerk from the Namibian Police’s criminal investigations directorate, who was speaking at the national stakeholder forum on wildlife protection and law enforcement.
De Klerk said between 15 June 2022 to 2 July this year, 1 357 people were arrested for wildlife crimes, of which 1 197 were Namibians. The rest include 78 Zambians, 65 Angolans, six Motswana, five Asians, five South Africans and one Tanzanian.
Of the 1 357 people who were arrested, 1 222 were first-time offenders, while 78 were apprehended for the second time.
Meanwhile, one individual has been arrested eight times in connection with wildlife crimes, and five others have been arrested seven times.
During the same period, 643 wildlife crime cases were registered, De Klerk said. The majority are from Zambezi (93), Kavango East (82), Otjozondjupa (80), Omaheke (73) and Kunene (57).
When looking at the number of cases by wildlife species, the majority involve antelopes (255), pangolins (100), small mammals (71), rhinos (56) and elephants (49), he said.
Poaching numbers
A total of 57 rhinos have already been poached this year, the majority - 29 - being killed in the Etosha National Park.
Last year, 74 rhinos were poached, while 2022, 2021 and 2020 saw 94, 53 and 48 animals killed respectively.
De Klerk said of the 57 rhinos poached to date this year, 40 were black rhinos and 17 white rhinos.
Eight of these rhinos were killed on private farms, while nine were in the custodian programme, two were from the Waterberg Plateau Park and the rest were from Etosha.
Meanwhile, only five elephants have been poached this year, compared to eight last year. Four elephants were poached in 2022, 10 in 2021 and 12 in 2020.
De Klerk said while elephant poaching numbers have been low, the confiscation of ivory has been very high. This, however, is due to Namibia being used as a transit country to move ivory.
This is according to deputy commissioner Barry de Klerk from the Namibian Police’s criminal investigations directorate, who was speaking at the national stakeholder forum on wildlife protection and law enforcement.
De Klerk said between 15 June 2022 to 2 July this year, 1 357 people were arrested for wildlife crimes, of which 1 197 were Namibians. The rest include 78 Zambians, 65 Angolans, six Motswana, five Asians, five South Africans and one Tanzanian.
Of the 1 357 people who were arrested, 1 222 were first-time offenders, while 78 were apprehended for the second time.
Meanwhile, one individual has been arrested eight times in connection with wildlife crimes, and five others have been arrested seven times.
During the same period, 643 wildlife crime cases were registered, De Klerk said. The majority are from Zambezi (93), Kavango East (82), Otjozondjupa (80), Omaheke (73) and Kunene (57).
When looking at the number of cases by wildlife species, the majority involve antelopes (255), pangolins (100), small mammals (71), rhinos (56) and elephants (49), he said.
Poaching numbers
A total of 57 rhinos have already been poached this year, the majority - 29 - being killed in the Etosha National Park.
Last year, 74 rhinos were poached, while 2022, 2021 and 2020 saw 94, 53 and 48 animals killed respectively.
De Klerk said of the 57 rhinos poached to date this year, 40 were black rhinos and 17 white rhinos.
Eight of these rhinos were killed on private farms, while nine were in the custodian programme, two were from the Waterberg Plateau Park and the rest were from Etosha.
Meanwhile, only five elephants have been poached this year, compared to eight last year. Four elephants were poached in 2022, 10 in 2021 and 12 in 2020.
De Klerk said while elephant poaching numbers have been low, the confiscation of ivory has been very high. This, however, is due to Namibia being used as a transit country to move ivory.
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