South Africa, Swaziland and CITES: lifting the ban on illegal trade
The recent decision by Zuma’s South African government not to push for an internationally sanctioned market is, at best, controversial. Many conservationists, animal rights campaigners, and casual observers will agree that this decision is the right one to save the species; however, this opinion is, for the most part, fuelled by ignorance and misunderstanding. Maintaining the ban could spell death for South Africa’s rapidly declining rhino population, playing straight into the hands of the poaching syndicates who are sending them to extinction. While it may seem counterintuitive to lift a ban on rhino horn, it is actually considered by some to be one of the fastest, most effective ways to ensure rhinos are protected and valued. As the current situation stands, rhino numbers are dropping rapidly, with over a thousand individuals killed by poachers alone each year. Private rhino owners, who own 20-25% of South Africa’s rhino population, are bleeding money – all funding goes towards pr
