Legalising rhino horn trade requires team effort, breeder says
Namibia’s CITES application under the spotlight
After the world's largest rhino farmer was arrested in South Africa last week, questions have been raised about whether this will negatively impact Namibia's application to CITES to legalise the trade.
Namibia’s largest rhino farmer says the arrest of his South African hero and mentor, John Hume, is a witch-hunt and politically driven.
A leading conservationist in South Africa, Hume (83) has been charged with smuggling rhino horns, allegations he has denied.
Namibian Jaco Muller, who runs the Rhino Momma Project, voiced his opinion after the world’s largest rhino farmer was arrested last week.
Asked whether this would negatively affect Namibia’s application to CITES for the legal trade in rhino horn, Muller said it is precisely because of the ban on legal horn trade that Hume went bankrupt.
“If there had been no ban, he would still be the world’s biggest rhino farmer, still increasing the global rhino population by 200 calves a year," Muller said last week.
“I am 110% sure he is innocent and that this is politically driven. The facts will come out, and if I am wrong, I will be terribly shocked,” Muller told Namibian Sun's sister publication Republikein.
Muller has visited Hume twice and sought advice from him on how to farm with rhinos.
Application pending
Namibia recently submitted an application to the 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP20) of the United Nations’ Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to amend the annotation of its southern white rhino population within CITES Appendix II.
According to the application, the amendment would allow international trade only in live animals for in situ conservation, hunting trophies and rhino horn stockpiles of Namibian origin owned by the government and private landowners. Confiscated horns and those of unknown origin would be excluded.
Namibia’s submission to CITES notes that the white rhino population remains under constant threat from poaching, largely driven by the high value of rhino horn.
“In response to the growing poaching risks, private landowners have borne high security costs, including upgraded fencing, ranger patrols, and surveillance systems," the Namibian government states.
CITES hurdles
Another well-known Namibian game farmer, Gerrie Odendaal, whose white rhinos have repeatedly fallen victim to poaching syndicates, said the challenge lies in the two-thirds majority vote required at CITES.
“I can’t see how we’re going to achieve this. It will really require a team effort from Southern Africa, with strong threats and pressure that they will walk away from CITES. But can they afford to do that?” Odendaal asked.
“Not really, considering the strong hunting industry and what the consequences there would be.”
Around 77% of Namibia’s white rhinos are found on privately owned land. The document notes that many owners, due to the challenges they face, have been forced to reduce their rhino herds or have given up entirely, selling all their rhinos.
"Unfortunately, when private owners remove rhinos from their properties, the total amount of white rhino habitat in Namibia decreases," the document submitted to CITES notes.
Since 2022, Namibia has exported 124 white rhinos to Angola, South Africa, Zambia and the United States. Muller’s rhinos were exported to Texas, and he confirmed yesterday that they are doing very well.
Innocent
Bail granted
Hume, who is accused of being involved with an international syndicate trading in rhino horn, maintains his innocence. In a letter to friends and family, he wrote that he has been actively cooperating with the South African Police Service since 2020 to assist with the investigation.
“During this period, I have complied with every request and communicated openly with law enforcement to assist with their investigations. The fact that bail was granted without dispute speaks volumes. It reflects the state’s confidence in my willingness to face the process with dignity, and I believe it underscores their recognition of my integrity and accountability,” he wrote.
Last week, he appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court alongside five co-accused, including a family member, his former lawyers, and his farm manager, on 55 charges related to the illegal trade in rhino horn.
The charges range from fraud, money laundering, and theft to violations of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act 2004 and racketeering.
Click on the link https://q.my.na/71DE
– [email protected]
A leading conservationist in South Africa, Hume (83) has been charged with smuggling rhino horns, allegations he has denied.
Namibian Jaco Muller, who runs the Rhino Momma Project, voiced his opinion after the world’s largest rhino farmer was arrested last week.
Asked whether this would negatively affect Namibia’s application to CITES for the legal trade in rhino horn, Muller said it is precisely because of the ban on legal horn trade that Hume went bankrupt.
“If there had been no ban, he would still be the world’s biggest rhino farmer, still increasing the global rhino population by 200 calves a year," Muller said last week.
“I am 110% sure he is innocent and that this is politically driven. The facts will come out, and if I am wrong, I will be terribly shocked,” Muller told Namibian Sun's sister publication Republikein.
Muller has visited Hume twice and sought advice from him on how to farm with rhinos.
Application pending
Namibia recently submitted an application to the 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP20) of the United Nations’ Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) to amend the annotation of its southern white rhino population within CITES Appendix II.
According to the application, the amendment would allow international trade only in live animals for in situ conservation, hunting trophies and rhino horn stockpiles of Namibian origin owned by the government and private landowners. Confiscated horns and those of unknown origin would be excluded.
Namibia’s submission to CITES notes that the white rhino population remains under constant threat from poaching, largely driven by the high value of rhino horn.
“In response to the growing poaching risks, private landowners have borne high security costs, including upgraded fencing, ranger patrols, and surveillance systems," the Namibian government states.
CITES hurdles
Another well-known Namibian game farmer, Gerrie Odendaal, whose white rhinos have repeatedly fallen victim to poaching syndicates, said the challenge lies in the two-thirds majority vote required at CITES.
“I can’t see how we’re going to achieve this. It will really require a team effort from Southern Africa, with strong threats and pressure that they will walk away from CITES. But can they afford to do that?” Odendaal asked.
“Not really, considering the strong hunting industry and what the consequences there would be.”
Around 77% of Namibia’s white rhinos are found on privately owned land. The document notes that many owners, due to the challenges they face, have been forced to reduce their rhino herds or have given up entirely, selling all their rhinos.
"Unfortunately, when private owners remove rhinos from their properties, the total amount of white rhino habitat in Namibia decreases," the document submitted to CITES notes.
Since 2022, Namibia has exported 124 white rhinos to Angola, South Africa, Zambia and the United States. Muller’s rhinos were exported to Texas, and he confirmed yesterday that they are doing very well.
Innocent
Bail granted
Hume, who is accused of being involved with an international syndicate trading in rhino horn, maintains his innocence. In a letter to friends and family, he wrote that he has been actively cooperating with the South African Police Service since 2020 to assist with the investigation.
“During this period, I have complied with every request and communicated openly with law enforcement to assist with their investigations. The fact that bail was granted without dispute speaks volumes. It reflects the state’s confidence in my willingness to face the process with dignity, and I believe it underscores their recognition of my integrity and accountability,” he wrote.
Last week, he appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court alongside five co-accused, including a family member, his former lawyers, and his farm manager, on 55 charges related to the illegal trade in rhino horn.
The charges range from fraud, money laundering, and theft to violations of the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act 2004 and racketeering.
Click on the link https://q.my.na/71DE
– [email protected]
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