Get the Data

Oxpeckers is a data-driven journalism (#ddj) organisation, which means that we source, aggregate and analyse data to help track and expose eco-offences across international borders. Our investigative stories use data-driven reporting, animated maps, and other types of data visualisation to augment traditional storytelling methods.

In our efforts to promote transparency and accountability, Oxpeckers shares these datasets with our users and readers.

You can explore and download data sources we use in our stories at

You can explore and download documents we use in our tools and stories at

Some of our investigations have produced large quantities of data that required combining, checking and cleaning, and represent significant amounts of work. These curated datasets, produced as part of various Investigations, are available for users and readers to download, explore and use as they see fit.

#WildEye investigations

We have collated thousands of data entries relating to wildlife crimes across the world. The #WildEye map datasets are constantly being updated, please email us on oxpeckers@gmail.com if you want us to share them with you.

The datasets below have been used in some of our exposés on illegal wildlife trade:

• Court judgments in Malaysia – data set of court rulings in wildlife trafficking cases between 2019 and 2021. These rulings were analysed for our investigation Malaysia’s judges throw the book at wildlife criminals

• Illegal tiger trade in Europe – data set collated by #WildEye on seizures, arrests and court cases between 2011 and 2020. This was one of the data sets used in our 2021 investigations Until the last tiger roars, and Tigers à la carte. The data was used in investigations published in Italian in Lifegate here, and in French in Usbek & Rica here.

• Court judgments on tiger trafficking in Nepal – consolidated data set of decisions from 2010 – 2018. This was one of the data sets analysed for use in the #WildEye Asia investigation Nepal’s courts in the dock over tiger crimes

• Wildlife crime in India – consolidated data set on poaching and law enforcement activities involving multiple species in India’s protected areas. This was one of the data sets analysed for use in the #WildEye Asia investigation Insurgents linked to India’s rhino poaching syndicates

• China Judgments Online – sentences in pangolin offences from December 2019 to April 2020. This data was analysed for the #WildEye Asia investigation Chinese courts treat pangolin offenders lightly

• Online wildlife crime in our Cryptotrafficking dossier:

• Seizures, arrests, charges & sentences involving illegal ivory trade across greater Europe:

• Price list of reptiles sold online by a trader from Africa, in How we (almost) became reptile smugglers:

• European eel seizures, arrests, court cases and convictions, in ‘Greatest wildlife crime on the planet’ threatens multiple ecosystems:

Mining your Water data

We have sourced, cleaned and collated thousands of data entries relating to water use licences across South Africa. The Water Licences map layer on #MineAlert shows where these have been granted in identified strategic water source areas. Our datasets are constantly being updated, please email us on oxpeckers@gmail.com if you want us to share the latest version with you.

Water permit violations

This dataset exposes mines in South Africa that have not complied with water use licence conditions. The data, released by the Department of Water & Sanitation in 2019, was used in the #MineAlert investigation Sweeping water permit violations at mines across SA.

#MineAlert data

• New coal projects in SA, February 2021

Data captured by AmaranthCX shows there are currently 112 new coal projects in exploration, feasibility study and/or construction phase. Of these new projects, 82 are in Mpumalanga province. This data set was used in the investigation Is coal really on its way out in South Africa?

• Following SA’s mining millions

A data-driven #MineAlert investigation shows that 10 UK-based companies paid out at least US$1.076-billion to South African government and community entities in 2018. Andiswa Matikinca investigated where the money went

• Mines, quarries, agents, and mineral processing plants officially operating in South Africa

This dataset is the National Department of Mineral Resources’ official 2019 list of operating mines, quarries, agents, and mineral processing plants in South Africa.

• Mine closure certificates and financial provisions for rehabilitation

This dataset details closure certificates and financial provisions for mine rehabilitation across South Africa. This data, released by provincial and national Department of Minerals offices as a result of Access to Information requests by Oxpeckers journalists, was featured in the #MineAlert investigation Coal mines leave a legacy of ruin.