Wildlife Crime Information Network, Mossel Bay (2026)

11/06/2026

𝗞𝗜𝗥𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗕𝗢𝗦𝗖𝗛 𝗩𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗕𝗬 𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗪𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗜𝗘 𝗔𝗨𝗖𝗔𝗠𝗣 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗘𝗫𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗧 - Minister Willie Aucamp visited Kirstenbosch yesterday with Professor Eugene Moll, prominent South African plant ecologist, botanist, and author, to provide first-hand context following recent media reports.

The Minister said it was important to see the facilities personally, listen to expert insight, and acknowledge both the beauty of Kirstenbosch and the areas that require improvement.

“We’re not saying everything is perfect at Kirstenbosch. Kirstenbosch is still beautiful,” said Minister Aucamp. “We know that there are things that we’ve got to improve on, and we will do that.”

Prof. Moll welcomed the direction being taken, noting that if the actions discussed are implemented, “hopefully Capetonians will start flooding back to the gardens.”

The Minister also emphasised that Kirstenbosch remains open to the public and to people with knowledge who can assist in protecting and strengthening this national treasure.

Related post: Kirstenbosch drowning in neglected plants - https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DsdDbsjw1/
Source: Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Date: 11 June 2026

🎥: DFFE @ Kirstenbosch Botanicals Gardens

11/06/2026

𝟭𝟮 𝗦𝗨𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗦 𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗔𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗔𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗣𝗢𝗔𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗜𝗡 𝗖𝗔𝗣𝗘 𝗣𝗢𝗜𝗡𝗧 - An intelligence-driven enforcement operation conducted by South African National Parks (SANParks) Environmental Crime Investigation (ECI) unit has resulted in the arrest of 12 individuals for attempted abalone poaching in the Cape Point section of SANParks - Table Mountain National Park (TMNP).

The operation, carried out on the evening of Tuesday, 9 June 2026, formed part of follow-up actions linked to an ongoing major investigation into illegal marine resource exploitation. During the operation, two suspicious vehicles were intercepted and searched. A significant quantity of diving equipment was discovered, indicating preparations for illegal abalone harvesting within the protected area.

The 12 suspects, who were en route to the Cape Point section of TMNP, were arrested and detained at Simon’s Town SAPS. All diving equipment was seized. A criminal case has been registered. The suspects are expected to appear in the Simon’s Town Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 11 June 2026.

This operation is regarded as a major success, effectively preventing a coordinated group from entering a national park to carry out illegal poaching activities. The arrests highlight ongoing efforts by law enforcement authorities to combat environmental crime and protect South Africa’s marine resources.

Source: South African National Parks (SANParks)
Date: 11 June 2026

📷: SANParks & ECI

10/06/2026

𝗞𝗜𝗥𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗕𝗢𝗦𝗖𝗛: 𝗗𝗥𝗢𝗪𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗜𝗡 𝗡𝗘𝗚𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗣𝗢𝗔𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗗 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗦 - The plants were stolen from the wild, rescued by the state, then delivered into another kind of danger. Inside Kirstenbosch’s greenhouses, South Africa’s plant-poaching crisis has become a grim question: what happens when confiscation saves plants only long enough for them to die?

Behind the lush lawns and beautiful gardens on the slopes of Devil’s Peak, Kirstenbosch’s extensive greenhouses are drowning in plants confiscated from poachers. These are not ordinary garden plants. Many are rare, slow-growing dryland succulents, dug out of fragile landscapes and fed into an international trade driven by collectors, syndicates and online demand.

One informed estimate puts the number of confiscated plants at Kirstenbosch as high as 500,000, though nobody seems able to give a precise figure. Even that, plant specialists say, is only a fraction of the number of valuable and rare wild plants being stripped from South African landscapes and exported illegally to foreign markets. An experienced and senior horticulturist with specialised knowledge of these unique plants repeatedly called on to identify seized plants is now caught up in a complicated court case with two anti-poaching police officers.

The matter has not been decided by a court, and the charges must be tested there. But the fact that people who were critical to succulent conservation and anti-poaching work have been removed from the system, and fired before the outcome, has sent alarm through parts of the plant conservation world. Is there something we’re not seeing?

That’s the backstory. But the place to begin is not in court. It is in the glasshouses.

I was introduced to plant specialist James Deacon after his explosive Facebook post about the state of Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden. He had been involved with the garden for 19 years, first as a volunteer, then as a student, an intern and later someone who helped with plant collections. Kirstenbosch, he wrote, no longer brought him joy, but pain and sadness.

When we met, he took me behind the public face of Kirstenbosch, away from the lawns, the mountain views, the restaurant and the visitors taking photographs, into the greenhouses where the botanical garden’s conservation work should be most visible.

Walking with us was botanist Zoë Poulsen. Both spoke about plants with the intimacy of people who know them not as display items but as living records: where they came from, who collected them, what form or clone they represent, whether they can still be used for conservation, and what is lost if they die. At first we were not looking at succulents, but Ericas. Deacon stopped at Erica turgida, a species extinct in the wild. If the plants in cultivation are lost, he said, the species is lost, apart from material planted out in places such as Rondebosch Common.

“These plants are part of the last living material in the world,” he said. “They should be actively maintained, replanted and re-propagated. Instead, they are sitting here, getting old. They haven’t even been watered."

Poulsen pointed out what might seem, to a visitor, like small signs of untidiness: weeds in pots, fallen leaves, dry soil, old plants too large for their containers, faded labels. But in a botanical collection these are not small details. A faded label can mean the loss of provenance. A plant without provenance may no longer be usable for restoration. A pot-bound senescent plant will decline and die. An extinct-in-the-wild species can still be lost if it is kept alive badly.

Then we moved into the succulent areas and the scale of the poaching crisis became overwhelming.

Also read: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-06-08-kirstenbosch-a-south-african-national-treasure-is-going-to-seed-warn-experts/

Source: dailymaverick.co.za - by Don Pinnock
Date: 9 June 2026

10/06/2026

𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗡 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗞 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗛𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗦𝗘𝗘𝗡 𝗜𝗧 𝗔𝗟𝗟, 𝗔𝗡𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗔𝗟 𝗟𝗢𝗦𝗧 𝗜𝗧𝗦 𝗟𝗜𝗙𝗘 𝗪𝗛𝗜𝗟𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗 𝗦𝗟𝗘𝗣𝗧 - Every single night the slaughter of serval cats continues in silence across South Africa, largely unnoticed, rarely prosecuted, and devastating for the survival of this remarkable species.

Sometimes we have no words to describe how we feel when videos like this are sent to us through our hotline. No matter how many cases we investigate, how many incidents we document, seeing a serval cat suffer at the hands of humans is never easy, especially when the cruelty is captured on camera. This is wildlife crime, this is organised exploitation and it is happening quietly.

The exploitation of serval cats for their skins remains a serious conservation concern:

These cats are illegally trapped, hunted with dogs and increasingly targeted for their skins. Every serval killed for its skin represents more than the loss of an individual animal. It is the loss of a predator that plays a vital role in maintaining healthy ecosystems by controlling populations of rodents and other small prey.

The suffering endured by these animals should concern anyone who values wildlife and conservation. Protecting servals is not only about preserving a species, it is about standing against needless cruelty and ensuring that these remarkable wild cats continue to play their role in nature.

"𝗟𝗲𝘁'𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝘀 𝗮 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲. 𝗜𝗳 𝘄𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄, 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘆"

Conservation efforts must also be supported by legislation that acts as a real deterrent:

Servals are listed as Near Threatened under South Africa’s TOPS (Threatened or Protected Species) regulations, meaning they are legally protected. However, protection on paper does not always translate into protection in the field. Weak enforcement, rural poverty, habitat loss, and limited awareness all contribute to the continued persecution of this species.

When you hunt, kill, possess, transport, or trade protected wildlife illegally, you are breaking the law. There is no grey area. It is a criminal offence, and those responsible are criminals. At the same time, greater public awareness and reporting of wildlife offences are essential to ensuring these animals receive the protection they deserve.

If you know or suspect that someone is illegally killing, trapping serval cats or illegally advertising serval cats for sale, 𝗣𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧 𝗜𝗧 ☎

Report 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 Crime via our 𝗛𝗢𝗧𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘: Whatsapp or call: 079 643 9556 or email [email protected] (all information provided will be treated as confidential).

*Try and provide WCIN with the following info:

🚙 Description of vehicle involved (colour, reg
nr, direction of travelling)
🧍🏽‍♂️ Description of person/s involved (clothes
wearing etc)
📍 Location of suspected poaching activity
(pin dropped)
📷 Photos or videos of suspected poaching
activity (if possible)
🏠 Address of suspected poacher (street
name, house no etc)
📲 Advert (link or screenshots)

❗Important❗When witnessing any suspected illegal poaching activities, always put your personal safety first.

Let's take hands and work together to 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗣 Wildlife Crime & Trafficking.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴: ⚠️ This post contains a video and information related to wildlife crime that some readers may find distressing. Viewer discretion is advised.

🎥: Video as received via WCIN hotline.

09/06/2026

𝗛𝗢𝗣𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗦𝗢𝗨𝗧𝗛 𝗔𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗔'𝗦 𝗪𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗪𝗔𝗬𝗦 𝗔𝗦 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗚𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗡𝗘𝗧 𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗔𝗣𝗣 𝗟𝗔𝗨𝗡𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗦 - Conservationists, law enforcement and the public are joining forces through a new app designed to combat illegal gillnetting.

South Africans have a remarkable way of stepping up when something worth protecting is under threat. Whether it’s rescuing wildlife, cleaning beaches, restoring rivers or safeguarding vulnerable species, ordinary citizens have often played an extraordinary role in conservation efforts. Now, a new digital tool is making it easier than ever for people to help protect the country’s waterways.

WILDTRUST recently launched the Gillnet Reporting App, which is giving conservationists, law enforcement agencies and everyday South Africans a new way to work together in the fight against illegal gillnetting, a destructive fishing practice that poses a serious threat to aquatic ecosystems across the country. For many people enjoying a day at the beach, paddling on a river or exploring an estuary, an illegal fishing net may not immediately stand out as a conservation concern. Yet these nets can have devastating consequences.

Designed to entangle anything that swims into them, gillnets do not discriminate between species, trapping fish, rays, sharks, turtles, birds and other aquatic animals. They can also continue causing harm long after they have been abandoned. Lost or discarded nets often become so-called “ghost nets”, drifting through waterways and silently trapping wildlife for years. The growing concern around illegal gillnetting has prompted an impressive collaboration between government departments, scientists, conservation organisations and law enforcement agencies. Together, they have developed a simple reporting tool that allows members of the public to become part of the solution.

“The gillnet reporting app has empowered citizens, law enforcement and conservationists to collaborate, share intelligence and implement targeted enforcement – when and where it matters most,” says Dr Jennifer Olbers, Senior Scientist at WILDTRUST.

The app enables users to report suspected gillnetting activity, creating valuable data that can help authorities identify hotspots, plan interventions and strengthen enforcement efforts.

“This app gives all water users the ability to contribute to law enforcement activities by logging any gillnetting activity in our waterways onto the platform,” says Anthony Malgora, Acting Manager, Amenities Coastal for Aquatic Safety & Law Enforcement at eThekwini Aquatic Safety"

The initiative brings together the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, WILDTRUST, law enforcement agencies, researchers and conservation groups in a shared mission to protect South Africa’s waterways and the wildlife that depends on them. Perhaps most encouraging is the reminder that conservation is not only the responsibility of scientists, rangers or government officials. Sometimes protecting nature starts with noticing something unusual and taking a moment to report it.

With a smartphone in hand and a little vigilance, South Africans now have another opportunity to become active custodians of the rivers, estuaries and oceans that make this country so extraordinary.

How to Help?
Download the app and join us in protecting our waters, our aquatic animals, and our water users.

Step 1: Download (free) Survey123 from your relevant App Store.
Step 2: Open Survey123 App on your device, click on ‘continue without signing in’; click on the QR code symbol on the upper right-hand side and scan the QR Code to install the Gillnet Reporting App.

If you suspect that you have come across illegal gillnetting activities, you can report it on the “Gillnet Reporting App”, to your local conservation agency, or to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment via email – [email protected] or call 0800 205 005.

Did you know: There are only two fisheries which are permitted to use gillnets in South Africa! Less than 10% of all gillnet catches in South Africa are legal.

Source: goodthingsguy.com - by Staff writer
Date: 9 June 2026

🎥: Video by Sharks Under Attack

08/06/2026

𝗥𝗔𝗥𝗘 𝗕𝗘𝗔𝗨𝗧𝗬 𝗢𝗙 𝗦𝗢𝗨𝗧𝗛 𝗔𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗔'𝗦 𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗛 𝗙𝗟𝗢𝗥𝗔𝗟 𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗔𝗚𝗘 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗨𝗘𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗕𝗘 𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗚𝗘𝗧 𝗕𝗬 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗣𝗢𝗔𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗦 - Following the recent arrest of a plant poacher who was caught illegally removing Clivia mirabilis from a nature reserve, we thought we would shine a light on this remarkable and rare species, and why its protection is so important.

Clivia mirabilis, a rare and highly sought-after plant found only in a limited area of the country. Its striking appearance, vibrant flowers, and rarity have made it a prized specimen among collectors, but unfortunately, these same qualities have also made it a target for plant poachers.

Also read the story: by WWF South Africa at https://pulse.ly/zgohwhugxv 🌱✨

Because of its rarity, the removal of even a few plants from their natural habitat can have a significant impact on wild populations, reducing genetic diversity and threatening the future of the species.

Wildlife crime is often associated with the poaching of animals, but plants are increasingly becoming targets for illegal collection and trade. Rare species such as Clivia mirabilis can fetch high prices on the black market, driving poachers to enter protected areas and remove plants from the wild. Unlike cultivated nursery-grown specimens, wild-collected plants represent an irreplaceable loss to the ecosystem. Once removed, it can take decades for populations to recover, if they recover at all.

The recent arrest serves as an important reminder that plant poaching is a serious environmental crime. Protected areas exist to conserve species such as Clivia mirabilis for future generations, and the illegal removal of these plants undermines years of conservation efforts.

Also read: Minister welcomes 15-Year sentences in R30-Million endangered plant poaching case - https://www.dffe.gov.za/mediarelease/george_15yearendangeredplanpoachingsentences

By raising awareness of the threats facing rare plants and supporting conservation initiatives, we can help ensure that these extraordinary species continue to thrive in the wild where they belong. If you know or suspect that someone is removing, advertising or selling protected plant species illegally, 𝗣𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧 𝗜𝗧 ☎

Report 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 Crime via our HOTLINE: Whatsapp or call: +27 79 643 9556 or email [email protected] (all information provided will be treated as confidential).

*Try and provide WCIN with the following info:

🏠 Address(street name, house no etc)
🚙 Details of vehicle (reg no, make, colour,
direction travelling)
📷 Photo or video (if possible)
📍 Location of house (pin dropped)

❗Important❗When witnessing any suspected illegal plant poaching activity, always put your personal safety first.

Let's take hands and work together to 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗣 Wildlife Crime & Trafficking.

08/06/2026

𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗣𝗢𝗔𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗖𝗔𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗧 𝗜𝗡 𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗘 - On 6 June 2026 at approximately 16:30, rangers at a local Nature Reserve contacted the Nieuwoudtville SAPS to report a suspicious person in the park.

SAPS members reacted swiftly and arrested a 21-year old male suspect, who was found in possession of endangered protected plants worth a substantial amount and was subsequently charged under the Northern Cape Nature Conservation Act 9 of 2009.

The suspect will appear in the Calvinia Magistrate’s Court and will remain in custody until the court proceedings. The District Commissioner commended the members involved and issued a stern warning to criminals, citing that the fauna and flora of the Namakwa region is protected and will not be plundered as it remains a natural heritage for the people of the area.

Source: South African Police Service
Enquiries: Captain Ivan Magerman
083 478 9317
Date: 7 June 2026

07/06/2026

𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗚𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗬 𝗛𝗨𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗕𝗬 𝗗𝗢𝗚𝗦, 𝗦𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗗 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗦𝗢𝗟𝗗 𝗧𝗢 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗠𝗨𝗧𝗛𝗜 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗘 - This is the price caracals pay every day to fuel the muthi trade.

Caracals are increasingly becoming victims of illegal hunting, often being relentlessly pursued and killed by packs of dogs. Once caught, these elusive predators are killed for their skins and body parts, which are sold into the muthi trade.

The illegal hunting of caracals by dogs not only causes unnecessary suffering to individual animals but also disrupts the natural balance of the environment. Every caracal removed from the wild has an impact that extends beyond a single species, affecting the ecosystems in which they live. Raising awareness about the illegal trade in wildlife and strengthening efforts to combat poaching are essential steps in protecting these remarkable predators for future generations.

Wildlife in South Africa is protected by law, and those who hunt, trap, kill, possess, trade, sell, or buy wildlife are criminals. If you come across illegal hunting, the unlawful keeping of wildlife, or the illegal sale of animal parts, you can report these incidents to curb exploitation, 𝗣𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧 𝗜𝗧 ☎️

Report 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 Crimes via our 𝗛𝗢𝗧𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘: Whatsapp or call: 079 643 9556 or email [email protected] (all information provided will be treated as confidential).

* If possible, try and provide WCIN with the
following info:

🚙 Description of vehicle involved (colour, reg
nr, direction of travelling)
🧍🏽‍♂️ Description of person/s involved (clothes
wearing etc)
📷 Photos or videos (if possible)
📍 Location of suspected poaching activities
(pin dropped)

We have a great responsibility as South Africans to protect our indigenous wildlife from abuse and to ensure they are sustained and kept for future generations and the sustainability of the species.

Let's take hands and work together to 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗣 Wildlife Crime & Trafficking.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴: ⚠️ This post contains photos and information related to wildlife crimes that some readers may find distressing. Viewer discretion is advised.

07/06/2026

𝗣𝗨𝗕𝗟𝗜𝗖 𝗢𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗥 𝗣𝗢𝗟𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗥𝗨𝗣𝗧 𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗚𝗔𝗟 𝗔𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗗𝗘 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗠𝗔𝗝𝗢𝗥 𝗦𝗘𝗜𝗭𝗨𝗥𝗘𝗦 𝗜𝗡 𝗪𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗜𝗡𝗚 - Members attached to Public Order Policing (POP) achieved significant success during an operational deployment conducted in the Westering area, Gqeberha on Wednesday, 03 June 2026, between 09:00 and 14:00.

Acting on information received, members executed two separate search warrants at storage facilities in Westering.

During the ex*****on of the first search warrant at premises in Warbler Street, Westering, members confiscated twenty (20) bags containing a total of 4 379 units of abalone with an estimated street value of R480 000. At a second premises in Cape Road, Westering, members confiscated a further eight (8) bags containing 1 539 units of abalone with an estimated street value of R150 000. In total, 5 918 units of abalone with an estimated street value of R630 000 were seized.

Although no arrests were effected at the time of the operation, the confiscation represents a significant blow to the illegal abalone trade. The removal of such a substantial quantity of abalone from circulation disrupts the activities of organised criminal networks that profit from the unlawful harvesting, storage, and distribution of marine resources.

The illegal trade in abalone continues to threaten South Africa’s marine biodiversity and deprives the country of valuable natural resources. Through proactive policing and intelligence-driven operations, SAPS remains committed to combating environmental crimes and protecting the country’s marine heritage. Enquiries have been registered in both incidents and further investigations are underway to identify and apprehend those responsible.

Acting Nelson Mandela Bay District Commissioner, Brigadier Loyiso Ngalo, commended the members for their efforts, stating: “While no arrests were made during these operations, the successful confiscation of nearly 6 000 units of abalone valued at approximately R630 000 is a significant achievement.

Every seizure disrupts the illegal supply chain, deprives criminal syndicates of financial gain, and demonstrates SAPS’ commitment to protecting our country’s natural resources. These operations send a clear message that environmental crimes will not be tolerated, and we will continue to pursue those involved in the illicit abalone trade.”

Source: South African Police Service
Date: 5 June 2026

06/06/2026

𝗥𝗜𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗗𝗦 𝗕𝗔𝗬 𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗞𝗘𝗬 𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗞 𝗢𝗨𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗚𝗘 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗛𝗨𝗡𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗖𝗨𝗟𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗦 - A R10 000 reward is offered to identify the culprit who shot and killed a vervet monkey in Arboretum.

Animal cruelty remains firmly in the spotlight after the inhumane shooting of a vervet monkey in Arboretum last week – with R10 000 offered to anyone who can identify the culprit. According to Richards Bay wildlife warrior Miriam Otto, the monkey would have experienced a slow, excruciating death.

The bullet perforated his windpipe, causing air to fill his chest cavity until his lung collapsed, said Otto. He died slowly, gasping, suffocating, fighting desperately for every breath while his body shut down in agony. Imagine the terror and pain of not being able to breathe, of choking to death while fully conscious. Otto said the monkey had also been shot in the legs, leaving it unable to escape.

Terrified, injured and dying, he dragged himself across a woman’s carport searching for safety while you stood there with your rifle,” said Otto, directing her anger at the monkey’s shooter. The homeowner was left traumatised by the horrifying sight. She thought there was an intruder on her roof, only to discover this broken, suffering monkey crawling for his life.”

Otto went on to warn the shooter that the other residents in Maroelamoot are keeping a close eye on any further animal cruelty in the area.

Another incident:

The shooting of yet another vervet monkey has been reported this week, this time in Pompano Place, in Meerensee.

According to Otto, this is the third monkey to have been shot at the entrance to Pompano Place. This mommy has a lactating baby! Not too long ago, we fetched a monkey from across the road; also shot, it fell of an air con and sadly onto paving where the dogs got hold of her,” said Otto. Does nobody hear anything? Next time it is an eye of a child! There is no place for shooters among our community, and unless people come forward this pathetic sick trend will carry on, she said.

Prosecution:

According to the Fi****ms Control Act 60 of 2000, it is an offence to discharge a firearm in a built-up area or any public place, without a valid, justifiable reason.

Fi****ms include pellet guns, BB guns and air rifles. Shooting monkeys can lead to prosecution under the Animals Protection Act, which carries penalties such as heavy fines and even imprisonme

Source: citizen.co.za/zululand-observer - by Tamlyn Cramer
Date: 5 June 2026

📷: After being shot in the windpipe and legs, the monkey somehow dragged itself over the roof of a Maroelamoot house Photo: Supplied

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