Legalising International Trade in Rhino Horn ???

[H. erectus]

Ag come to think of it a lousy thought I have since
between that rice paddies one would probably find
vast acres of poppie fields for local production!!!

These 'okes are unto all sorts of stuff yet somehow
the problem does not lie there!!

This hyper phobia seems to lie quite close and here!

Those are creeds and cultures that somehow we have
come to understand yet locally it seems we realize a
totally different understanding!!, out on the take!!

[Penga Ndlovu]

Now we know what H does on his stoep whilst wrapped up in his blanket -O

He alone accounts for the whole states deficit of a year.

But all fun and games aside.
Legalising things that should never been legalised in the first place has never been the answer.
It is only making the rich richer and the poor poorer.

I come from a country where the legalised softdrugs a very long time ago in order to curb the use of it and to keep the trade witin bounds.
There is no other country now where softdrugs is so easy smuggled through than that country.
Huge amounts of money is made because of that legalisation and big turf wars has been going on in border towns because of it.

No option!!

[Toko]

Legalised rhino horn trade to curb poaching – SAHGCA

The demand for rhino horn in the international market is steadily increasing, which speaks to the need for its trade to be legalised, argues South African Hunters and Game Conservation Association (SAHGCA) manager for hunting and conservation Dr Herman Els.

Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa echoed this view when she advocated the legalising of rhino horn trade, which reflects government’s goal of reducing rhino poaching, during a media briefing in March.

Rhino horn sales have been banned for more than 30 years under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora initiative.

Until 2010, about 10 to 12 rhino were poached a year. From 2010, however, the number drastically increased to 333 by 2011, 485 in 2012, and is set to reach close to the 1 000 mark by end-2013, Els tells Creamer Media’s Polity.

Also, more Asians, the continent that is home to the biggest demand for rhino horn, are entering Africa, which creates avenues for traders to exploit markets in Asia, he adds.

Rhino horn has become a status symbol in some Asian countries, where people are known to pay more than $1-million for a rhino horn.

“The moment you start forcing down the black-market price, there is little reason for people to continue poaching at the rate which the current numbers indicate. Poaching will never stop, but it can be limited,” Els believes.

He proposes that auctions be held for legal rhino horn, allowing buyers the option of purchasing the horn at a more affordablee price, which could compete with black-market prices, therefore, reduce poaching activities.

Rhino horn to the value of R3.5-billion are currently stored in South Africa, meaning that no rhino would have to be killed for at least three authorised and properly managed auctions a year to take place.

A DNA certificate would be issued for each horn sold at the proposed auctions to ensure the sale is legal, Els explains.

He stresses that it is crucial for South Africa to create an avenue for the legal trade of rhino horn, as the demand for rhino horn is growing.

“South Africa has to take part in international negotiations with countries importing rhino horn within the black-market system,” Els emphasises.

“South Africa cannot expect Asians to stop using rhino horn for traditional purposes, as it is part of their cultural value system, which has existed for more than 5 000 years. However, a satisfactory solution for all parties involved in rhino trade could be implemented,” he explains.

The supply of horn could be sourced from the 200 to 350 rhino dying of natural causes in South Africa each year. These horns form part of the national stock-pile, which South Africa could use to sell rhino horn on the international market in a controlled manner. This will decrease the high black market price for horn, and thus decrease the high price poachers can get for a set of rhino horn. says Els.

Corruption

The sudden increase in rhino poaching can be traced to the high price paid for rhino horn on the black market. Prices currently average between $ 65 000 and $75 000 per kilogram on the black market. “These figures explain why poachers can be paid between R250 000 to R350 000 for a set of rhino horn poached in Kruger National Park. Obviously, the money involved contributes greatly to corruption,” notes ELs.

“While there are adequate laws to prohibit rhino poaching, the problem lies with the policing and implementation of the laws. Much fraud is being committed by government officials with regard to rhino horn and, in some cases, by private rhino owners),” he adds.

Many cases of rhino being registered with environmental personnel and or the police, only to result in robberies at the premises where the rhinos are held shortly thereafter, have been reported.

“Laws and proclamations are not the issue when it comes to endangered species,” he stresses, adding that, while media emphasis is mostly on rhino horn trade, there is a steady increase in the age old demand for tiger and lion body parts, as well as ivory, in Asian markets.

“The international trade in these animals cannot be stopped and, therefore, we need to find initiatives where trade is legally sanctioned and regulated,” Els points out.

He notes that economic value has to be attached to natural resources to ensure their survival.

Edited by: Shannon de Ryhove

[Richprins]

Rhino horn to the value of R3.5-billion are currently stored in South Africa, meaning that no rhino would have to be killed for at least three authorised and properly managed auctions a year to take place.


I said earlier people may be surprised at the size of the stockpiles, and absolutely agree with this figure, if not more! (No thumbsuck, have chatted to some connected people.)

The thing is, the .gov stockpiles remain "secret"...and our country's corruption record bodes ill for the future if what remains isn't sold soon! Presumably that money will go straight into conservation, a massive boost for SanParks, covering a year's budget at least!

[Richprins]

Obviously the hunters/farmers have a vested interest in selling, as does .gov.

But so be it! Nothing else is working!

[H. erectus]

But so be it! Nothing else is working!

Some harsh action on behalf off,........... might just show some
progress, but then again that lot are pussyfooting up the avenue
of rotten gain!!!

There is forever this argument about educating the whole world
out there!! Just maybe, at very little cost, some .gov and essentials
need to be processed again, through that norm!!

Grade 12 will be remarkable enough achievement for some!!

[iNdlovu]

R3.5 billion in the stock pile? Will someone that is good with math please do the calcs.
If the average horn is worth R2.4 million, how many horns are in the stock pile?
In my book this works out to 1458 horn. This years poaching figures will probably reach 1000 horn,
So we have just over a years supply at current prices, if we open the trade, the price will go down, but demand will increase, so we probably only have enough supply for one year.......then what.

People and organizations and .gov are very keen to do this to realize some cash, but how the heck can it help the rhino?

[Flutterby]

I wouldn't even be surprised to hear that some of that stockpile has gone walkabout already!

[iNdlovu]

Not only that Flutts, it also has a limited shelf life after which it disintegrates into fine dust, totally unacceptable to the market and therefore useless.

[Richprins]

Let's see! The syndicates will have a heart attack, or go legal, and we may have a year's breathing space, and money will go into the "right" coffers.

At the moment rhino farmers sometimes see little point in spending money on open targets, even sometimes "poaching" themselves, so may get more motivation to persist long-term, thereby helping the rhino!