Trade in rhino horn option should be revisited ASAP

IT was extremely disconcerting – but not unexpected – to learn last week that rhino poachers continue to successfully target this vulnerable animal.

Even more disturbing was to hear that last year, no fewer than 307 of these magnificent creatures were slaughtered at Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, the most important eco-tourism attraction in our region.

Of course, along with the negative report came promises and reassurances that measures are in place to reverse the trend, such as by ‘dismantling the rhino poaching syndicates’, increasing the number of rangers on foot patrols, and upgrading of security and surveillance equipment.

We view these assurances with a great deal of scepticism, for a number of reasons.

First and foremost is the fact that the demand for rhino horn, fuelled by ignorance and folklore, continues; and the international syndicates involved in poaching have become increasingly more organised.

By contrast, the lead authorities – in this case Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife – have become progressively less effective through poor leadership, weak administration, financial mismanagement, and other issues not dissimilar to those that have brought about the failure of virtually all Stateowned enterprises.

EKZN staff are demoralised, and lacking the basic equipment and resources needed to face the poaching syndicates, especially in hand-to-hand skirmishes.

Specialised organised crime police units have steadily lost their impact and, while reference is made to ‘several arrests and convictions’ in the province, the actual outcomes when highprofile suspects appear in court have been dramatic failures.

As for having informants in the local communities, the greater likelihood is that poachers have collaborators working within the game reserves, making their missions easier.

It’s an ongoing war, one that authorities seem at a loss to stop.

We have previously suggested heeding the call that trading in rhino horn, supported by the likes of conservationists such as Dr Ian Player, needs to be revisited.

As with any situation where money changes hands, it’s a question of supply and demand.

There is certainly no shortage of demand for rhino horn - despite all the attempts to educate users on the myths of rhino horn efficacy and the treatises that have been signed - so it all comes down to the supply.

Either, people will get the horns through legal trading or the spiral of cruel harvesting at the barrel of a gun or a swinging panga will dictate the terms.

Sadly, a number of private game ranchers now choose to not stock rhinos, simply because it’s not worth the effort of keeping something they will inevitably lose.

On the other hand, should trade in rhino horn - and even the controlled, ethical hunting of rhino - be permitted, they would be encouraged to increase breeding to meet the needs of the hunting fraternity.

It has been said that enough rhino horn has already been stockpiled to ensure a 20-year supply to the international market.