Over the years poachers have dehorned thousands of rhinos in multiple countries, national parks, and sanctuaries for wild animals, critically endangering Africa’s Black rhinos. In certain Asian countries, mainly Vietnam and China, rhino horns are in demand due to a false belief that their keratin horns are able to cure cancer, when in actuality, it is made of the same constituent that makes human fingernails.
Though the killing of wild animals for food used to be a part of routine life, hunting remains a matter of controversy nowadays, mostly because hunting is frequently regarded as a recreational activity and not a human need.
Not long ago, the US based Dallas Safari Club announced that they would be auctioning off a permit to hunt an endangered Black rhino. The auction, that will take place in January, will permit one hunter the opportunity to hunt a Black rhino in Namibia, and import the trophy to the United States.
The Dallas Safari Club claims that all proceeds from the auction of the permit will go back into rhino conservation in Namibia, and they expect the permit to sell at a price between 250,000 and 1 million US Dollars. According to the Club’s Executive Director, Ben Carter, ‘This fundraiser is the first of its kind for an endangered species’. He also said, ‘It’s going to generate a sum of money large enough to be enormously meaningful in Namibia’s fight to ensure the future of its Black rhino populations.’
The Club plans to donate the profit made on the sale of the permit to Namibia’s Ministry of Environment and Tourism rhino program, which protects Black rhino (Dicerosbicornisbicornis) and Southern white rhino (Ceratotheriumsimumsimum). In total, Namibia has 1750 Black rhinos and 469 White rhinos. Activities of the program include translocations, community conservation programs, anti-poaching and monitoring, and wildlife-based tourism development. The program’s funding partners include the Opel Zoo, and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
The USFWS says, science supports the idea that limited culls of older males can benefit a local population, and according to Carter, only an old, post-breeding rhino will be the target of the permit. However, the Dallas Safari Club has yet to confirm how exactly the sum of money raised for Namibia’s Ministry of Environment and Tourism rhino program will be used.
Despite the fact that Black rhino is listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List, CITES has granted Namibia an export quota of up to five Black rhinos to be killed by hunters each year. Normally, endangered species are not allowed to enter the United States as trophies; however, an exception was made in 2009, the first exception to the law.
David K. Reinke, president and CEO of a laserjet printer parts wholesaler called Liberty Parts Team and a big donor to Republican political candidates, shot his first Black rhino in Namibia in 2009. According to a 2010 report from Business Week, he paid a total of $215,000 for the hunt. This appears to include a $175,000 contribution to the Namibian government’s Game Products Trust Fund, which helps to support wildlife conservation and management efforts. Since then, Reinke has rallied support from organisations including the Conservation Force to import his trophy’s horn into the United States. In March of this year, the USFWS granted Reinke the permit needed for importing the horn under the
Endangered Species Act of 1980. According to Scientific American, ‘The Service granted this permit after an extensive review of Namibia’s black rhino conservation program, in recognition of the role that well-managed, limited sport hunting plays in contributing to the long-term survival and recovery of the black rhino in Namibia.’
If the hunting of rhinos, both legally and illegally, can never be stopped, are there any alternative solutions?
Earlier this year there was talk about South Africa legalizing trade in rhino horn. According to the Department of Environmental Affairs, South Africa will propose the legalization of trade in rhino horn at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species in 2016. This will only legalize a once-off trade in current rhino horn stockpiles, rather than a continuing industry. However, it has stirred up debate and has been a source of outrage internationally. Some conservationists support the idea of legalization of trading rhino horn, while some argue against it and suggest that any legal rhino horn market only supports the misconception that the keratinous body part has medicinal properties.