Oxpeckers

Africa’s first investigative environmental journalism unit

Combining traditional investigative reporting with data analysis and geo-mapping to expose eco-offences and track organised criminal syndicates in southern Africa

You can help us to investigate

LATEST INVESTIGATIONS

The donkey slaughter capital of West Africa
Demand for donkey-hide glue has turned Ghana into the region’s slaughterhouse, and the Chinese abattoir behind the trade is re-opening for business. Oscar Nkala investigates
Oxpeckers Reporters
20 May, 2019

On the trail of Mali’s dangerous donkey traffickers
Mali restricted the sale and slaughter of donkeys for skins in 2016, so syndicates have turned to smuggling stolen animals to Ghana. Oscar Nkala investigates
Oxpeckers Reporters
28 May, 2019

On the trail of Mali’s dangerous donkey traffickers
Mali restricted the sale and slaughter of donkeys for skins in 2016, so syndicates have turned to smuggling stolen animals to Ghana. Oscar Nkala investigates
Oxpeckers Reporters
28 May, 2019

The donkey slaughter capital of West Africa
Demand for donkey-hide glue has turned Ghana into the region’s slaughterhouse, and the Chinese abattoir behind the trade is re-opening for business. Oscar Nkala investigates
Oxpeckers Reporters
20 May, 2019

Europe’s eggheads drive the demise of ‘king of parrots’

In a sophisticated laundering scheme, traffickers fly the eggs to Europe, incubate them and pass off the live birds as captive-bred. Denise Hruby investigates...
10 Jun, 2019
Preserving pangolins in South Asia

Pangolin populations across South Asia are endangered by a huge trade in animal parts supplying the appetite for Chinese traditional medicine...
10 Jun, 2019
Sweeping water permit violations at mines across SA

New data reveals a radical increase in the number of mines flouting water regulations. Mark Olalde & Andiswa Matikinca investigate...
17 May, 2019
Clipping the wings of Italy’s bird poachers

More than five million birds are hunted illegally in Italy every year – by far the most in Europe. Matteo Civillini investigates efforts to crack down on offenders...
15 May, 2019
Africa’s pangolins caught in ‘the perfect storm’

Recent seizures of huge amounts of scales have turned Nigeria into Africa’s key illegal pangolin exporting country. Alexis Kriel investigates what is driving the trade...
06 May, 2019
Mining opponents operate in ‘environment of fear’

'We know our lives are in danger': Attacks on anti-mining activists and environmental defenders documented in a new report. Andiswa Matikinca investigates...
16 Apr, 2019
Millions of UN dollars fail to reach villages fighting to survive in Mozambique

Estácio Valoi exposes how the failure of UNDP funding intended to combat environmental destruction left Mozambican communities to battle cyclones, floods and drought alone...
29 Mar, 2019
Oxpeckers investigation wins Asian journalism award

Transnational investigation into abalone smuggling from South Africa to China wins at Asian Environmental Journalism Awards...
22 Mar, 2019
Richtersveld diamond deal leaves locals with the dirt

Tensions mount in the diamond-rich Richtersveld after the sale of mines by Trans Hex left a multi-million-rand rehabilitation debt. Yolandi Groenewald investigates...
18 Mar, 2019
Exposing the abalone-rhino poaching links

John Grobler investigates the overlap between abalone and rhino horn smuggling syndicates operating between South Africa, Namibia and Hong Kong...
08 Mar, 2019
Namibia starts controversial hyena cull to save its wild horses

Shooting hyenas to save wild horses raises heated debate about interventions between endemic wildlife and ‘feral’ animals. Linda Baker investigates...
26 Feb, 2019
Dynamic data discovery: The future of detecting wildlife cybercrime

Being able to identify online transactions and conversations involving vulnerable species will assist in the fight against wildlife trafficking. Roxanne Joseph reports...
04 Feb, 2019
Digital tool tracks Europe’s role in illegal wildlife trade

Our digital geojournalism tool #WildEye gives easy access to data on seizures, arrests, court cases and convictions related to wildlife crime in Europe...
28 Jan, 2019
What is free, prior & informed consent for mining?

The Western majoritarian view does not work when consulting mining-affected communities such as Xolobeni, reports Andiswa Matikinca...
24 Jan, 2019
The world’s largest ‘paper park’

Six years and €50-million since its creation, Oscar Nkala visits the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area to find out what impact it has had on wildlife and communities...
14 Dec, 2018
SA sets hard rules at COP24

South Africa and its allies at the COP24 climate negotiations are pushing for a strong rulebook on the Paris Agreement. Yolandi Groenewald reports from Katowice...
13 Dec, 2018
Directors targeted for Mintails mess

Executives at Mintails and DRDGOLD scramble to avoid liability and the possibility of criminal charges for R460-million environmental mess on the West Rand...
12 Dec, 2018
A dark battle to save pangolins

South African pioneers are inventing ways to save casualties of the world’s biggest wildlife crime, reports Louise de Bruin...
04 Dec, 2018
Kenya – the epicentre of East Africa’s donkey crisis

Stolen donkeys are smuggled across borders with Tanzania and Ethiopia to feed Kenya’s expanding abattoirs and Chinese demand for donkey-hide glue. Oscar Nkala investigates...
28 Nov, 2018
Disrupting wildlife crime on the Dark Web

As enforcement steps up, illicit operations go deeper into darkness. New research suggests the marketplace could become impossible to disrupt, writes Roxanne Joseph...
27 Nov, 2018
Mining starts in Mpumalanga water zone

Local residents reported blasting and the removal of coal close to the wetlands of the Greater Lakenvlei Protected Environment. Andiswa Matikinca investigates...
21 Nov, 2018
Help us to track wildlife crime

Our new #WildEye project aims to expose wildlife smuggling networks and how they work across the greater European continent...
20 Nov, 2018