Combatting Wildlife Crime

Combatting wildlife crime, particularly at a regional level, requires a multi-agency approach and the imperative of sharing information across a trusted coalition of law enforcement agencies. Several major combatting wildlife crime projects are being implemented by the MEFT, NGO partners and communities across Namibia. Significant results have been recorded including:

  • The number of known poached rhinos has decreased since 2018.
  • Arrests of poachers, especially pre-emptive arrests, have increased.
  • In 2021, there was zero-poaching rate of black rhinos in the north-west area of Namibia.
  • In 2021, 64,404 vehicle and foot kilometres were recorded in the NW rhino landscape and a total person-day effort of 10,724 days was logged during rhino patrols.
  • The collaborative nature of rhino conservation in the north-west continues to act as a deterrent to poachers.
In 2021, partners who worked towards combatting wildlife crime found creative ways to continue their assigned activities, leading to a high number of scheduled activities taking place, despite COVID-19 travel and gathering restrictions.

Community pride and awareness activities improved local knowledge of the importance of wildlife and the value, both tangible and non-tangible, it brings to their lives. Community pride efforts built upon the conservation achievement of local communities and aim to create a sense of resentment when outsiders poach and steal wildlife from communities. This has led to communities being proactive in reporting suspicious activities to the relevant authorities.



According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, over 111,000 African elephants have been poached in the decade leading up to 2016, while over a fifth of Africa’s white rhinos have been wiped out since 2008.

There is a broad spectrum of wildlife in Namibia including plains game, such as zebra and antelope species, predators including iconic species such as lion, and large mammals including elephant and rhino.

Combatting wildlife crime is a major pillar of Namibian government policy, carried out by the MEFT with its National Wildlife Crime Strategy, government law enforcement agencies and conservation NGOs.

Stakeholders combatting wildlife crime in Namibia
Government:


Customs and Excise (Ministry of Finance) Controls border trade and acts to prevent smuggling of animal parts

Financial Intelligence Centre Statutorily mandated to assist with combatting money laundering, financing of terrorism and proliferation

Ministry of Justice Departments dealing with legislation and legal frameworks

Office of the Judiciary New independent body that includes magistrates and judges

NAMPOL Namibian Police Force including the Protected Resources Unit

Comments

  1. Napandulwe Paavo1 April 2024 at 12:44

    Yes Namibian wildlife need to be prevented

    ReplyDelete
  2. Napandulwe Paavo1 April 2024 at 14:10

    Arrest of poaches has increased now

    ReplyDelete
  3. Napandulwe Paavo1 April 2024 at 14:51

    Thanks for schooling me on this

    ReplyDelete
  4. Anatolia Shambalula2 April 2024 at 01:22

    I think patrol officer also need to be monitored because they are most linked to poachers...or where do poachers get information??

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Shihomeka Leonard Tonateni4 April 2024 at 04:35

      At times we may regard this as bias information until we get solid evidence against that

      Delete
  5. Napandulwe Paavo2 April 2024 at 14:24

    Everything need to be controlled against poaching

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Shihomeka Leonard Tonateni4 April 2024 at 04:36

      Yes some species are on the vast verge of extinction

      Delete

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