Meet the Welsh Puppies Saving Africa’s Wildlife from Poachers In the heart of Africa’s vast wilderness, where rhinos, elephants, and

Surveillance technology intended to protect endangered species is weaponized against locals, with repercussions that range from harassment to physical violence.

Kyle Davis praises AB 59 provisions aimed at wildlife protection and chronic disease prevention.

Private rhino owners step up security …as Namibia records 15 rhino poaching cases in 2025  New Era Namibia

Niël Terblanché Reports of drone sightings in rural parts of the country are raising concern among farmers, who suspect the devices may be used for poaching and livestock theft. According to the Namibia Agricultural Union (NAU), more farmers are reporting drones flying over farms and remote homesteads, especially at night.  The union said the sightings have sparked questions about possible links to recent criminal activity. In response, a group of concerned individuals has created a protocol to track drone sightings and compare them with reports of theft or poaching. “The Namibian Police and the Namibia Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) have been alerted, but both agencies require written documentation before investigations can proceed,” the NAU said. Members of the public are urged to record the drone’s size, flight patterns, how often the drone appears, and its location. If a drone is recovered, it must be handled carefully to preserve possible evidence, such as fingerprints, stored footage, or IP address data. The NAU has shared steps for reporting drones.  Members of the public are also advised to join a regional WhatsApp group, complete and certify an affidavit at a NamPol station, and share the affidavit and any photos in the group for further action. “Let’s work together to keep Namibia safe,” the NAU said. In April, the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism banned drones in Etosha National Park. Colgar Sikopo, deputy executive director of the ministry’s directorate of natural resource management, said drones were once allowed under strict rules, but poor compliance led to the ban. “Many visitors have been entering the park and using drones with no such permission. This situation created some security risks and a disturbance to other visitors to the park,” Sikopo said. He said poachers are increasingly using drones to locate endangered species such as black rhinos. Under the new rules, visitors must leave drones at the national park’s entrance gate and collect them when they leave.

The Ministry of Environment and Tourism plans to use over N$45 million towards the protection and management of key species and natural habitats. This was revealed by minister Indileni Daniel during the motivation of her ministerial budget allocation of N$727 million in the National Assembly last week. “The programme further provides for the dedicated conservation and management of high-value species such as elephants, rhinos and pangolin, which are facing extinction risks as a result of increasing levels of poaching,” she said. According to the minister, aerial and ground-based wildlife surveys were conducted to assess the status of wildlife in selected communal area conservancies and in the state-protected areas, while more than 200 black and white rhinos were captured and de-horned. Daniel said better protective measures have to be applied to protect the rhino from poachers. Additionally, to support wildlife-based economic activities in both protected areas, communal conservancy areas and on freehold land, the ministry captured and translocated some animals to conservancies and protected areas. Through these efforts, she said, more job opportunities were created through the existing and new tourism concessions the ministry awarded to communities living inside and near the state-protected areas. Meanwhile, N$51 million is earmarked for tourism growth and development, as well as gaming regulation. Citing the tourist statistical report for 2023, Daniel said tourist arrivals have bounced back from 169 565 during the Covid-19 pandemic to 863 872. The ministry further intends to implement a chain of maintenance and new infrastructure developments that have been assigned over N$33 million. “The programme provides for development, rehabilitation and maintenance of critical infrastructure, while also ensuring that programmes, projects and related activities are timely executed by agreed standards, qualities and specifications,” she said. Daniel further outlined her ministry’s intention to implement a policy coordination and support services programme that has been allocated N$131 million. “Also included under this programme is the oversight of the implementation of 30 apprenticeships, 50 internships, and 25 graduate internships for the 2025/26 financial year, aimed at enhancing youth employability, promoting economic empowerment, and addressing broader social-economic challenges such as unemployment and skills gaps.” The post Over N$45 million earmarked for environmental conservation appeared first on The Namibian.

A game-changer in the fight against fight illegal slaughter.

Every year, the illegal wildlife trade ensnares millions of wild birds in a vast global industry. Poaching for the black market affects a huge diversity of life, including nearly half of all bird species....

Officials emphasize e-tagging benefits while addressing poaching challenges during public meeting.