Minister mum on rhino horn stock

2011-08-11 22:23

Cape Town - Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa cannot reveal the amount of rhino horn being held by conservation agencies in South Africa.

In a written reply to a parliamentary question on Thursday, she said an inventory of rhino horn stocks had been completed.

"But due to security risks, the department cannot publicly announce the amount of stocks held by these agencies," Molewa said.

According to media reports, powdered rhino horn is currently being sold in some Asian countries for about R360 600/kg. The price of gold is about about R408 000/kg.

The high prices paid for the horn - which is composed entirely of keratin, the stuff that makes up human hair and nails - is sustained by the belief that it has curative properties.

Horns, on average, weigh about 7kg.

Powdered, they are used in the Far East in traditional medicines to treat headaches, fevers, rheumatism and gout, among other things. According to experts, the horn has no medicinal value at all.

The high demand and price has led to a surge in rhino poaching in South Africa over the past two years.

In her reply, Molewa said plans to legalise trade in rhino horn in South Africa were "not... on the cards".

However, a study to investigate the viability of legalising the trade, as well as well as one on "market intelligence regarding rhino horn trade", still had to be conducted.


- SAPA