trade in rhino horn where we stand on legalising the trade

In late 2017, South Africa's Department for Environmental Affairs (DEA) lifted the moratorium banning its domestic rhino horn market following a sustained legal and political campaign from private rhino ranchers, reigniting the ongoing debate about the merits and impact of legalised rhino horn trade.

Supporters of the decision argue that legalised trade offers an alternative approach in the efforts to conserve rhino populations under threat from poaching. It is argued that the revenue generated from sales of humanely removed rhino horn could help contribute to anti-poaching operations and benefit wider wildlife conservation efforts. It is also thought that regulated trade could help reduce criminal activity, and allow for traceable, ethical and sustainable consumption of rhino horn.

Although TRAFFIC appreciates the frustration of private rhino owners having to bear extremely high security costs to protect their rhino herds, concerns remain regarding South Africa's capacity to fully regulate and enforce a legal domestic market alongside the dangerously high levels of illegal activity already taking place. Given South Africa’s past difficulties in regulating legal trade in another threatened species, abalone Haliotis midae, when it was briefly listed in Appendix III in CITES in 2007, and coupled with the simple fact that there is no domestic demand for rhino horn in the country, there is insufficient evidence to suggest that South Africa's domestic rhino horn market would benefit rhino conservation.

Instead, it is likely that the new legislation might further exacerbate the potential for criminal involvement, creating further enforcement challenges or even helping to drive higher levels of consumer demand.