JOHANNESBURG (AP) – A rhino breeder in South Africa is planning an online auction of rhino horn, capitalizing on a court ruling that opened the way to domestic trade despite an international ban that was imposed to curb widespread poaching.
The online sale of rhino horn belonging to breeder John Hume will happen Aug. 21-24 and revenue will be used to “further fund the breeding and protection of rhinos,” according to an auction website . Van’s, a Pretoria-based auction house, is overseeing the sale and a “physical” auction will occur on Sept. 19, it said.
Rhino breeders believe poaching would be undercut by a regulated trade in rhino horn, though critics say trade will spur poaching that has occurred at record levels in the past decade. Poachers killed 1,054 rhinos in South Africa last year, a 10 percent drop from 2015, according to the government. By some estimates, South Africa has nearly 20,000 rhinos, representing 80 percent of Africa’s population. Asia has several rhino species, including two that are critically endangered.
Hume has more than 1,500 rhinos on his ranch and spends over $170,000 monthly on security for the animals, in addition to veterinary costs, salaries and other expenses, the auction website said.
“Each rhino’s horn is safely and regularly trimmed by a veterinarian and capture team to prevent poachers from harming them,” it said, adding that Hume has a stockpile of more than 6 tons of rhino horn.