Comments on: Is Escalating Rhino Horn Trade Linked to South African Hunting Industry? http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/07/20/escalating-rhino-horn-trade-linked-to-south-african-hunting-industry/ News & commentary on sustainability, activism, urban planning, politics, and our world. Sun, 12 Feb 2012 17:54:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Rhishja Larson http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/07/20/escalating-rhino-horn-trade-linked-to-south-african-hunting-industry/comment-page-1/#comment-62378 Rhishja Larson Sun, 13 Dec 2009 17:37:07 +0000 http://ecoworldly.com/?p=3203#comment-62378 Susan - Thank you for sharing your opinion. The bottom line is that there are people who support trophy hunting, and those who do not. The same is true regarding the "fate" of the rhino after being sold - some believe the seller has a measure of accountability for the animal's welfare, others believe responsibility ends once money exchanges hands. Regarding the involvement of trophy hunters from the "Far East" - particularly Vietnam - it has been acknowledged by rhinoceros conservation experts that their interest in rhino trophy hunting is for unscrupulous purposes. For further information about the issue of Vietnamese "trophy hunters", you can refer to the report African and Asian Rhinoceroses - Status, Conservation and Trade: A Report from the IUCN Species Survival Commission (IUCN/SSC) African and Asian Rhino Specialist Groups and TRAFFIC to the CITES Secretariat pursuant to Resolution Conf. 9.14 (Rev. CoP14) and Decision 14.89, found at the CITES website. What a hunting client "may or may not do with the rhino horn once it is exported" is actually a serious issue: Rhino horn that enters Asian markets further stimulates illegal trade - which compounds the current rhino poaching crisis. Legitimate hunting operators - who claim to be doing their part for conservation - (should) perform client due diligence regarding any rhino horn export. And finally - the post, in fact, does not state that white rhino are Endangered, but that white rhino are classified as "Near Threatened" - which is just two clicks away from Endangered. Thank you again for your opinion. Rhishja Larson Susan -

Thank you for sharing your opinion. The bottom line is that there are people who support trophy hunting, and those who do not. The same is true regarding the “fate” of the rhino after being sold – some believe the seller has a measure of accountability for the animal’s welfare, others believe responsibility ends once money exchanges hands.

Regarding the involvement of trophy hunters from the “Far East” – particularly Vietnam – it has been acknowledged by rhinoceros conservation experts that their interest in rhino trophy hunting is for unscrupulous purposes.

For further information about the issue of Vietnamese “trophy hunters”, you can refer to the report African and Asian Rhinoceroses – Status, Conservation and Trade: A Report from the IUCN Species Survival Commission (IUCN/SSC) African and Asian Rhino Specialist Groups and TRAFFIC to the CITES Secretariat pursuant to Resolution Conf. 9.14 (Rev. CoP14) and Decision 14.89, found at the CITES website.

What a hunting client “may or may not do with the rhino horn once it is exported” is actually a serious issue: Rhino horn that enters Asian markets further stimulates illegal trade – which compounds the current rhino poaching crisis. Legitimate hunting operators – who claim to be doing their part for conservation – (should) perform client due diligence regarding any rhino horn export.

And finally – the post, in fact, does not state that white rhino are Endangered, but that white rhino are classified as “Near Threatened” – which is just two clicks away from Endangered.

Thank you again for your opinion.

Rhishja Larson

]]> By: Susan http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/07/20/escalating-rhino-horn-trade-linked-to-south-african-hunting-industry/comment-page-1/#comment-62377 Susan Sat, 12 Dec 2009 20:19:03 +0000 http://ecoworldly.com/?p=3203#comment-62377 Please can you get your facts right and stop the so called 'animal rights' propaganda. 1) Not ALL white rhino are 'endangered'. Some POPULATIONS such as those in East Africa are 'endangered' but the South African white rhino can be considered a safe population. 2) When animals like rhino are sold from a National Park like KNP to private land holders, the purpose is twofold - it reduces the rhino population in the fenced Park to it's desired level for habitat maintenance plus it generates much needed revenue for the Park. 3) The rhinos sold by Parks are either bulls past their breeding prime which are actually causing problems by attacking and killing other rhinos OR family units to start new rhino populations on private reserves. 4) These old rhino bulls are available for hunting by LEGAL hunters for large amounts of money which in turn is revenue for the conservation of wildlife and habitat in RSA. At the end of it's natural breeding life as an old rhino, do you not think it better to utilise the animal rather than let it perish of disease and/or predators? 5) Why should the Park be responsible for the 'after care' of the rhinos sold? They are responsible as far as making sure they go to suitable habitat and size properties but that is all. They know most old bulls will be hunted and 'sustainable utilisation' of wildlife is one of the guiding principles for wildlife management policy of the 'World Conservation Strategy'. 6) Try reading, studying and thinking (outside your cosy 'animal rights' box) before spreading your propaganda. You quote IUCN...Well, IUCN + WWF + UNEP + FAO (UN Food & Agricultural Organisation) + UNESCO, all in collaboration, published the following mission statement.... a) To maintain essential ecological processes and life support systems. This refers to soil regeneration & protection on which human survival depends. (One good reason for elephant culling in fenced Parks where massive elephant populations are destroying habitat). b) To preserve genetic diversity. This refers to all world organisms dependent on the above. c) To ensure the sustainable utilisation of species and eco-systems (notably fish and other wildlife, forests and grazing lands) which suport millions of rural communities and industries. d) Supports the consumptive use of the earth's renewable resources for both subsistence and commercial purposes. 7) The Chinese or Far East trophy hunters are NOT illegal poachers if they pay their large rhino trophy fee, hunting daily rate and hunt legally in accordance with the provincial game laws of RSA. As such they are LEGALLY allowed to export the trophy horn to their home country on a CITES Import Permit. What they are not NOT allowed to do under CITES regulation, is to take the horn home with them in a suitcase (it must be exported legally using a taxidermist & trophy export company) OR sell the horn on to someone else once in the Far East. 8) PHASA's advice to it's members simply acknowledges the potential abuse of the system but there is little they can do if the hunt and the horn exported, is legitimate. In my opinion you really can't discriminate against a person on the basis of being from the Far East and what they may or may not do with the rhino horn once it is exported. 9) Rather these few Far Eastern people get rhino horn at source in RSA legally than finance undercover large scale poaching organisations as still persists in other areas of Africa where hunting is banned, and wildlife has no financial or indeed, any other value, for the rural populations except for commercial poachers - notably Kenya. Please can you get your facts right and stop the so called ‘animal rights’ propaganda.
1) Not ALL white rhino are ‘endangered’. Some POPULATIONS such as those in East Africa are ‘endangered’ but the South African white rhino can be considered a safe population.
2) When animals like rhino are sold from a National Park like KNP to private land holders, the purpose is twofold – it reduces the rhino population in the fenced Park to it’s desired level for habitat maintenance plus it generates much needed revenue for the Park.
3) The rhinos sold by Parks are either bulls past their breeding prime which are actually causing problems by attacking and killing other rhinos OR family units to start new rhino populations on private reserves.
4) These old rhino bulls are available for hunting by LEGAL hunters for large amounts of money which in turn is revenue for the conservation of wildlife and habitat in RSA. At the end of it’s natural breeding life as an old rhino, do you not think it better to utilise the animal rather than let it perish of disease and/or predators?
5) Why should the Park be responsible for the ‘after care’ of the rhinos sold? They are responsible as far as making sure they go to suitable habitat and size properties but that is all. They know most old bulls will be hunted and ‘sustainable utilisation’ of wildlife is one of the guiding principles for wildlife management policy of the ‘World Conservation Strategy’.
6) Try reading, studying and thinking (outside your cosy ‘animal rights’ box) before spreading your propaganda. You quote IUCN…Well, IUCN + WWF + UNEP + FAO (UN Food & Agricultural Organisation) + UNESCO, all in collaboration, published the following mission statement….
a) To maintain essential ecological processes and life support systems. This refers to soil regeneration & protection on which human survival depends. (One good reason for elephant culling in fenced Parks where massive elephant populations are destroying habitat).
b) To preserve genetic diversity. This refers to all world organisms dependent on the above.
c) To ensure the sustainable utilisation of species and eco-systems (notably fish and other wildlife, forests and grazing lands) which suport millions of rural communities and industries.
d) Supports the consumptive use of the earth’s renewable resources for both subsistence and commercial purposes.

7) The Chinese or Far East trophy hunters are NOT illegal poachers if they pay their large rhino trophy fee, hunting daily rate and hunt legally in accordance with the provincial game laws of RSA. As such they are LEGALLY allowed to export the trophy horn to their home country on a CITES Import Permit. What they are not NOT allowed to do under CITES regulation, is to take the horn home with them in a suitcase (it must be exported legally using a taxidermist & trophy export company) OR sell the horn on to someone else once in the Far East.
8) PHASA’s advice to it’s members simply acknowledges the potential abuse of the system but there is little they can do if the hunt and the horn exported, is legitimate. In my opinion you really can’t discriminate against a person on the basis of being from the Far East and what they may or may not do with the rhino horn once it is exported.

9) Rather these few Far Eastern people get rhino horn
at source in RSA legally than finance undercover large scale poaching organisations as still persists in other areas of Africa where hunting is banned, and wildlife has no financial or indeed, any other value, for the rural populations except for commercial poachers – notably Kenya.

]]> By: Mal http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/07/20/escalating-rhino-horn-trade-linked-to-south-african-hunting-industry/comment-page-1/#comment-62376 Mal Wed, 28 Oct 2009 19:34:55 +0000 http://ecoworldly.com/?p=3203#comment-62376 You have No problem lying to the people. Phasa ( and it's members ) was NOT advised to stop exporting Rhino to Vietnam and the far East. The Professional hunters' Association made this decision as a result of our own concerns about illigal use of Rhino. This was a inhouse policy adopted. The world should take note that the hunting fraternity is more concerned about wild animals; than $25-00 donaters, to a radically emotionally dissturbed Tree Hugging Group. You have No problem lying to the people. Phasa ( and it’s members ) was NOT advised to stop exporting Rhino to Vietnam and the far East. The Professional hunters’ Association made this decision as a result of our own concerns about illigal use of Rhino. This was a inhouse policy adopted. The world should take note that the hunting fraternity is more concerned about wild animals; than $25-00 donaters, to a radically emotionally dissturbed Tree Hugging Group.

]]> By: Jaldapara Elephant Safaris Halted to Thwart Rhino Poachers : EcoWorldly http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/07/20/escalating-rhino-horn-trade-linked-to-south-african-hunting-industry/comment-page-1/#comment-62375 Jaldapara Elephant Safaris Halted to Thwart Rhino Poachers : EcoWorldly Sun, 25 Oct 2009 00:59:58 +0000 http://ecoworldly.com/?p=3203#comment-62375 [...] this year, a group of Vietnamese poachers posed as trophy hunting clients in order to kill rhino in South Africa. It was later confirmed that the horn had been been shipped back to Vietnam for [...] [...] this year, a group of Vietnamese poachers posed as trophy hunting clients in order to kill rhino in South Africa. It was later confirmed that the horn had been been shipped back to Vietnam for [...]

]]> By: Will South Africa Follow Through on Microchipping Rhinos This Time? : EcoWorldly http://ecolocalizer.com/2009/07/20/escalating-rhino-horn-trade-linked-to-south-african-hunting-industry/comment-page-1/#comment-62374 Will South Africa Follow Through on Microchipping Rhinos This Time? : EcoWorldly Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:55:17 +0000 http://ecoworldly.com/?p=3203#comment-62374 [...] poachers seem to be finding ways around the law, [...] [...] poachers seem to be finding ways around the law, [...]

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