The High Court in Pretoria ruled yesterday to lift the ban on the domestic rhino horn trade, a decision that caused outrage amongst animal rights groups.

The court overturned our government’s moratorium on rhino horn trading as a result of what they say was inadequate public consultation. Activists for Animals Africa (AAA) issued a strongly worded statement in response with this below from News24:

On Thursday, AAA said in a statement that the decision was shocking, ill-informed and undermined the global efforts to stop the trade in endangered species.

“Legalising trade does not diminish the threat against rhino populations, there will always be a black market,” said AAA spokesperson Melissa Weavind.

“There will always be a price on the horn of a wild rhino as the Asian countries may believe that the properties of a fresh kill are substantially more powerful than those of stored rhino horn which in their eyes could have a sell-by date.”

The three judges overturned the ban at the request of local rhino breeders John Hume and Johan Krüger, although there is confusion as to how overseas buyers will transport the rhino horn out of SA when other countries still prohibit its trade. Weavind again:

“When the Asian or other buyers come to South Africa to buy their rhino horn, will they be allowed to transport it out of the country legally?

“Will they be allowed to enter another country with it, as right now commercial international trade in rhino horn is still prohibited in terms of the provisions of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)?” Weavind asked.

It is reported that the Department of Environmental Affairs will appeal the decision. In the mean time most of us can only look on and shake our heads – is this really the kind of message we want to send the world about how we intend to protect our endangered species?

[source:news24]