South Africa is home to 22,000 rhinos – more than 80 percent of the world’s rhino population.
Advertisement
“South Africa does not have a market for rhino horn domestically and the opening of trade locally will only lead to the smuggling of rhino horn by criminal syndicates into the black market in Vietnam and China”, Thomson wrote in an email to The Associated Press.
THE ban on trade in rhino horn has reportedly been lifted by a decision of the High Court in Pretoria.
The Department of Environmental Affairs said no decision had been made on whether to appeal the decision or not.
The updated report on behalf of Hume is as follows: In 2012 the number of rhino poached was just above 600 in 2013 about 1 000 and about 1 200 in 2014.
The animals are slaughtered by poachers for their horn, which is used as a traditional medicine in East Asia.
“Lifting of the domestic ban in South Africa is not the entire war won, but it is at least a battle that has been won”, said a statement from Hume’s lawyer.
Cites is due to meet in SA next year and a lifting of the ban is expected to feature on the agenda as there is a growing belief that the sale of horn stockpiles will flood the market and reduce levels of poaching.
Hume and Krüger maintained the moratorium should be set aside because Environment Minister Edna Molewa did not give proper notice of her intentions to members of the public and South Africa’s 400 registered rhino breeders and owners.
“It is setting an unnecessary precedent by allowing domestic trading of horns even though the horns won’t be allowed to leave the country”.
The mister said she is studying the moratorium but had indicted she will appeal the judgment, in which case the Department’s application will suspend the operation.
Advertisement
And Born Free Foundation President, Will Travers OBE, said: “Rhinos are threatened by poaching for their horns across their remaining African and Asian range”. Leading worldwide economists and conservation experts agree that the markets for rhino horn are highly unpredictable, and that legalising the trade would be a huge risk, one that will be very hard to reverse should it prove disastrous – as I predict it will.
