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.

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LATEST INVESTIGATIONS

Calls for a special wildlife crime court in Namibia
Namibia’s over-burdened criminal justice system is struggling to keep up with rhino-poaching court cases. Is a special wildlife crime court the answer? John Grobler investigates
Oxpeckers Reporters
24 Feb, 2021

Vietnam’s wildlife criminals getting off lightly
Vietnam’s new criminal law sets high penalties for wildlife crime, and authorities are cracking down on offenders. Now the courts must toe the line, reports Vo Kieu Bao Uyen
Oxpeckers Reporters
01 Mar, 2021

Vietnam’s wildlife criminals getting off lightly
Vietnam’s new criminal law sets high penalties for wildlife crime, and authorities are cracking down on offenders. Now the courts must toe the line, reports Vo Kieu Bao Uyen
Oxpeckers Reporters
01 Mar, 2021

Calls for a special wildlife crime court in Namibia
Namibia’s over-burdened criminal justice system is struggling to keep up with rhino-poaching court cases. Is a special wildlife crime court the answer? John Grobler investigates
Oxpeckers Reporters
24 Feb, 2021

Too low, too slow: SA’s rhino convictions

The real war on poaching happens in the courtroom – but the wheels of justice grind slowly in many rhino-related cases, writes Jacqueline Cochrane...
19 Feb, 2021
How to break the law and get away with it

Botswana’s controversial Bo Chang donkey abattoir is back in business. It’s flouting the law and setting a dangerous precedent, reports Oscar Nkala...
17 Feb, 2021
Is coal really on its way out in South Africa?

Andiswa Matikinca investigates whether the sun is setting on the coal industry as major producers are pulling out and leaving their coal assets to be picked up by smaller companies ...
15 Feb, 2021
Mission to the Kawe

Reconnaissance of ReconAfrica's proposed fracking site in Kavanga raised concerns about ecosystems, water and communal lands, writes John Grobler...
01 Feb, 2021
Nepal’s courts in the dock over tiger crimes

Nepal’s laws on wildlife crime are relatively strict, but offenders tend to get away with lenient court sentences. Tufan Neupane investigates why...
28 Jan, 2021
‘Gold rush’ as Botswana meets appetite for lion goods

Data investigation by Calistus Bosaletswe shows that over a 10-year period South Africa received most of the live lions and their products exported from Botswana...
20 Jan, 2021
The perfect rhino crime

Oscar Nkala investigates how corrupt judicial processes in Zimbabwe are helping wildlife traffickers get off scot free...
13 Jan, 2021
Proposed coal mine threatens UNESCO site in South Africa

Manzolwandle Investments expresses confidence in proceeding with its proposed coal mine on the southern border of Kruger National Park. Andiswa Matikinca reports for Earth Focus...
21 Oct, 2020
New Indonesian law trumps wildlife smugglers

Using the Quarantine Act to prosecute a wildlife-smuggling syndicate gave the biggest verdict ever. Will it work in other trafficking cases? Rezza Aji Pratama investigates...
11 Sep, 2020
Donkey rustlers profit off wildlife trafficking routes

Cross-border donkey smugglers in Zimbabwe and Botswana are operating pipelines used for ivory, pangolins and Covid-19 contraband. Oscar Nkala investigates...
08 Sep, 2020
Talking about wildlife trafficking in Asia

A recent #WildEye webinar saw journalists from across Asia discussing how best to cover wildlife trafficking in the region...
26 Aug, 2020
Insurgents linked to India’s rhino poaching syndicates

Recent arrests indicate the Zomi Revolutionary Army orders rhino horns that are smuggled via Myanmar to China. Sadiq Naqvi investigates...
19 Aug, 2020
Powering up investigative environmental journalism

What we do: Peer review by NiemanLab and the Global Investigative Journalism Network of Oxpeckers tools and investigations...
03 Aug, 2020
Following South Africa’s mining millions

Data-driven investigation shows 10 UK-based companies paid out at least US$1.076-billion to SA government and communities in 2018. Andiswa Matikinca follows the money...
14 Jul, 2020
Data investigation exposes illegal wildlife trade in Eastern Europe

New #WildEye data reveals that Eastern Europe is an important region for wildlife traffickers. And it seems likely that many crimes go unnoticed and unpunished, writes Marius Daea...
02 Jul, 2020
China urged to burn stockpiles of pangolin scales

Environmental groups say a symbolic gesture would send a clear signal to the public that use of pangolin scales is no longer permitted. Alexis Kriel reports...
12 Jun, 2020
The need for speed in water licensing

The government is in the process of fast-tracking water use authorisations. What are the implications for water security? Andiswa Matikinca investigates the data...
15 May, 2020
New tool tracks Asia’s role in illegal wildlife trade

With global attention focused on wildlife trade in Asia, Oxpeckers introduces a new data journalism tool that investigates legal interventions...
06 May, 2020
Chinese courts treat pangolin offenders lightly

Data investigation by #WildEye Asia exposes lenient punishments for pangolin offences that are unlikely to deter illegal trade. Investigation by Bao Choy...
05 May, 2020
Nigeria steps up to help pangolins

Research, contacts and networks from our journalistic investigations in the hub of Africa's illegal pangolin trade contributed to Nigeria hosting World Pangolin Day...
05 Mar, 2020
New mining threat at Mapungubwe heritage site

A rush of coal prospecting applications raises new fears about mining around Mapungubwe National Park, a world heritage site of cultural and environmental importance...
27 Feb, 2020
The human face of tragic Wuhan

Oxpeckers associate Yuexuan Chen tells her story of Hubei, the Chinese province at the epicentre of the coronavirus crisis...
20 Feb, 2020