SA plan to sell rhino horn

2012-07-13 10:31

South African conservationists have unveiled a plan to sell rhino horns legally and directly to Chinese pharmaceutical companies. (Green Renaissance)

Johannesburg - South African conservationists have unveiled a plan to sell rhino horns legally and directly to Chinese pharmaceutical companies, The Star reported on Friday.

"Let's try it out for five years and see what impact it has," Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife's former conservation planning chief Roger Porter said in Durban on Thursday, as the formal proposal was presented to the International Wildlife Management Congress.

He said the horns would be sold in the same way diamonds were sold by the De Beers corporation.

The Star reported the price would be controlled by a central selling organisation, with sales held at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg four times a year.

The money used from horn sales would be used to fund rhino conservation efforts.

More than 270 rhino had been slaughtered for their horns so far this year. Rhino horn is used to make traditional medicine, which is mainly consumed in Asia.

Porter acknowledged the proposal was not a "silver bullet" to halt poaching.

"If it reduces poaching significantly let's carry on with it. But if it doesn't reduce poaching, then stop the sales."

- SAPA