Rhino Horn Trade

[TXhunter65]

Anyone got any additional information on this?

 

[Philip Glass]

Some good news finally. There will be many challenges to this before it takes effect. It makes sense in a corrupt country that this progress would be had now that John Hume had to sell out to a powerful NGO.

 

[grand veneur]

This unfortunately only applies to the South African local trade under very strict conditions. Internationally, there is no change of the laws regarding rhinos and the trade in their products. That does not solve the problem, because a rhino product still cannot be legally offered on the international market. It might be possible to buy it legally in SAR, but it will still have to be exported and imported illegally unless the largest buyer in Asia legalizes its import, with all the consequences that this will have for them on the international market. This perhaps opens the door to even more damage to the rhino population. The demand for rhino horn is high in some countries, and if it becomes even easier to obtain, this demand could increase further. Such decisions must be valid worldwide to be truly effective and not only in one country.

 

[grand veneur]

I am getting off-topic, but in Africa, the real question is why there are poachers and why poaching exists. More measures by governments in Africa to improve the well-being of the population would perhaps be more sensible than seeking about a new source of income for a privileged few. It is easy for us to condemn poaching in Africa from our armchairs, but when you live in abject poverty, for many poaching, regardless of the type, is the only way to earn money and to feed their families. Rhino poaching is a very attractive option, even if it brings in very little money compared to the selling price of rhino horn powder on the international market. But it is enough to live on for a family.