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| Location: |
World |
| Subject: |
Trade |
| Species: |
All Rhino Species |
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Report on CITES 10. South Africa, which through its successful conservation programme has seen its white rhino population grow to over 7000, failed by just two votes to get a two thirds majority to have CITES launch an investigation into the impact of a resumption in trade in white rhino horn.
Populations of white rhino in South Africa were listed on Appendix 2 at COP 9 with an annotation allowing trade in live animals and hunting trophies. The effect of downlisting was to be reviewed at COP 10 in Harare and South Africa had recommended that there be a zero quota in horns.
The proposal would have allowed South Africa to investigate the possibility of establishing a bilateral trade in horn, with future annual export quotas submitted to the parties for approval. However, this was rejected by the parties, who felt that accepting such a proposal would see the few rhino in Asia being wiped out by poachers while others said public attitudes towards rhino horns had changed since 1992, when the price slumped and 'opening trade in horn could reverse this trend'. But some delegates and observers felt South Africa was being 'punished' for its successful rhino conservation programme described as the best in the world. The country boasts 7,095 of the 7,563 white rhinos in the entire Southern Africa region. Instead of being rewarded through incentives for its success in rhino conservation, South Africa is being punished and that really negates efforts,' pointed out an official of the Africa Resources Trust.
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CITES reports
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