The last rhino will not be shot by American hunters
The rhino will die at the hand of the failing CITES treaty
ANDREW MCGILL writes:
Barbara Hayman is concerned about a photo of American rhino hunters displaying their trophy in 2013 or earlier, again doing the rounds.
She should not be concerned: this event is unlikely to be repeated. The reason is the CITES treaty now grants an exclusive mandate for the trade in rhinoceros horn to criminal organisations.
No farmer that has a rhinoceros may legally enter this market. The eastern criminal syndicates are slowly mopping up the pockets of rhinoceros that remain in game reserves and private lands. Few can afford to fight them, since a rhinoceros is an economic burden: you cannot hunt it, eat it, use its horn, its hoof, ride it, or sell it to the circus.
Instead you must invest in red tape and costly security measures and see how they fail.
The last rhinoceros will not be shot by American hunters. The rhino will die at the hand of the failing CITES treaty.
South Africa should withdraw from CITES without delay and encourage the commercial use of rhinoceros. The treaty did not anticipate the problem we now face. Save the rhino!
