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IN RESPONSE TO THE MEDIA ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN BEELD TODAY

Do professional hunting outfitters share in the profits of the illegal trade in rhino horn?

It is evidently clear that government is dragging their heels and are not recognising the dire situation in respect of a total onslaught on rhino populations in South Africa that could drive the animals to extinction.

The SanWild Wildlife Trust responded to the media statement issued by the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism yesterday at a media briefing and called on all South Africans to appeal to the Minister to immediately issue a moratorium on the legal hunting of rhinos as there is sufficient evidence to show that the legal hunting continues to fuel the illegal trade in rhino horn to a great extent.

Almost 60% of the rhinos hunted in South Africa are hunted by individuals from East Asian countries such as Taiwan and Thailand.  Before 2005 hunters seeking to hunt rhinos in South Africa from East Asian countries were almost unheard of.  As these countries have not historically had a culture of hunting it is highly questionable if the rhinos hunted by such individuals are truly hunted as trophies.  It is more likely that these hunts are abused to obtain rhino horn via legal channels for the illegal black market trade in rhino horn.  

In 2009 Cites reported that only 20% of rhino horns of rhinos legally hunted in South Africa entered the home countries of the “hunters” via legal channels. It is highly possible that the rest entered the illegal black market trade. It is evidently clear that since 2005 individuals from East Asian countries have systematically in conjunction with certain unethical South African professional hunting outfitters, rhino and private landowners, been exploiting a loop hole in legislation to fuel the trade in illegal rhino horn. 

Despite these facts, permits to hunt rhinos legally cannot be refused by the Department of Environmental Affairs to individuals applying for a permit to hunt rhinos based on their nationality. However professional hunting outfitters and rhino owners can determine to whom they are willing to sell to; or whom they will accept as clients to kill rhinos.  Sadly from statistics available it is evidently clear that many rhino owners and professional hunting outfitters are not applying a discretionary principle as to who gets to kill rhinos in South Africa.

Unfortunately as a result, this abuse of the legal hunting of rhinos will continue to be abused many a number of operators.  This is the main reason why an immediate moratorium is needed to adjust legislation to prevent the abuse of the current system by rhino owners and professional hunting outfitters and their clients whose main objective remains short term financial gain.

While the horns of rhinos hunted legally to a great extent are entering the illegal trade both professional hunting outfitters and poachers share in the same financial spoils of the illegal black market trade in rhino horn.  Claims by WRSA that a moratorium will lead to increase poaching should be frowned upon and their motives questioned.  It is terribly disappointing and worrying that WRSA has publically threatened the Minister with legal applications should a temporary moratorium be put in place by government in order to get its house in order. 

The current crisis can only be brought under control if urgent interim measures and intervention concentrate on the survival and protection of all rhinos and not on who will benefits financially from the death of yet another rhino – be it a poacher, a “bona-fide” hunter, a rhino owner or a professional hunting outfitter.

Opening the trade in rhino horn is not a viable option either and the ethics in respect to dehorning animals should be questioned as the only argument in favour of dehorning is to protect rhinos from poachers.  There are numerous recorded incidents where dehorned rhinos have been killed for the remainder of their horns and there are no guarantees that this drastic action will result in decreased poaching.  There are recorded incidents where dehorning have been abused to the detriment of the animals themselves and the public should be aware that opening the trade in rhino horn and allowing dehorning for commercial gain will result in further exploitation and abuse as was the case with “green darting”.

Any rhinos lost at this stage – be it from poaching or legal hunting is a tragedy and moves South Africa another step close to a negative population growth rate and eventual extinction.  Any rhino dehorned for commercial gain is a sad indictment on South Africa’s ability to execute effective law enforcement in respect to the conservation of endangered species.

Issued by the SanWild Wildlife Trust

Contact details:

Louise Joubert – louise@sanwild.org

Mobile +27 (0) 833103882