Government has decided to mull over the idea of legalising the trade of rhino horn in a bid to curb the illegal trade and protect the endangered species. This comes in the wake of the news that we have lost over 138 rhinos in the first quarter of 2011.

According to Rhino Conservation.org, the 138 rhinos poached since the beginning of this year represents a figure of approximately 40% of the total number of rhinos that were poached in 2010. That figure was 333.

The news has come in a written reply to a parliamentary question that DA MP Jaunita Terblanche had put to Water and Environmental Affairs Minister, Edna Molewa, about the matter.

Molewa has reportedly said that her department will commission a feasibility study to probe the viability of legal rhino horn trade in South Africa.

Not mixing her words, Molewa explained in the letter:

The department will, as part of the outcomes of the Rhino Summit held in October 2010, commission a feasibility study on the viability of the legalization of the Rhino horn trade in South Africa.

Molewa went on to say that issues of legal rhino horn trade would further be on the agenda at the next session of the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in August, later this year.

Earlier in the year the Kruger National Park enlisted the services of the South African National Defence Force to fight poaching. They now provide security and additional assistance to rangers and anti-poaching units based in and around the Kruger National Park in Mpumalanga, which is amongst the worst hit by the poaching.

Rhino horn has long since been made into products for medicinal purposes in several Asian countries and the demand seems to be growing rapidly with no solution in sight.

[Sources: TimesLive, RhinoConservation]