Legalise rhino horn trade to boost conservation, govt says
Steep security costs compel many to relinquish rhinos
Approximately 77% of Namibia's white rhinos inhabit privately owned land.
The Namibian government says that legalising the rhino horn trade would boost domestic demand for live rhinos, likely outstripping even illicit market returns.
It would also stimulate private ownership of white rhinos while expanding the animals' habitats nationwide.
The country's arguments in favour of legal trade are contained in a proposal to the 20th Conference of the Parties (CoP20) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Namibia is seeking an amendment to the annotation of its southern white rhino population within CITES Appendix II. CoP20 will take place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from 24 November to 5 December.
According to the proposal, the amendment would allow international trade in live animals for in-situ conservation only, hunting trophies and trade in rhino horn stocks owned by the government and private landowners.
It would exclude seized rhino horns and horns of unknown origin.
Strict controls
The proposal noted that legalised horn trade, managed under rigorous permit systems, DNA verification and quotas, would motivate rhino custodians to retain and expand their rhino populations, shifting the economic balance away from poaching and toward legal, live conservation.
“The government of Namibia proposes an initial, closely monitored phase, capped at 200 kilograms of horn per year.”
It says authorities would observe poaching rates, rhino population trends and trade volumes.
“If negative consequences arise, such as an increase in illegal offtake, the government stands prepared to suspend or revise quotas. This adaptive approach mitigates risk while testing the potential for a transformative conservation strategy.”
Costly business
Namibia’s white rhino population remains under persistent threat from illegal poaching, the proposal warns.
Approximately 77% of Namibia’s white rhinos live on privately owned freehold land.
"In response to growing poaching risks, these private landowners have shouldered steep security costs, including upgraded fencing, ranger patrols and surveillance systems," the document states.
Many owners have been compelled to reduce or dispose of their herds entirely due to these challenges.
“Unfortunately, whenever private owners remove rhinos from their properties, the total amount of white rhinoceros habitat in Namibia decreases.”
The document further notes that private landowners who do continue to keep white rhinos typically rely on three possible revenue streams, namely tourism, trophy hunting and live animal sales, to cover protection expenses.
“Yet even in combination, these income sources often fall short," the document notes.
Consequently, 12 million hectares of freehold land suitable for white rhinos remain largely unused for conservation.
“Without robust economic incentives, private landowners have little reason to dedicate or expand this valuable habitat for rhinos.”
Poachers pays well
According to the proposal, current black-market prices for rhino horn can reach around US$20 000 per kilogram (N$354 000 at the current exchange rate).
This means a single large rhino horn may be worth between US$80 000 and US$120 000 (N$1.46 million to N$2.12 million).
By comparison, the document notes, a live white rhino usually sells for about US$10 000 (N$177 000), a difference of about eight to 12 times less.
“This disparity spurs illegal hunting, as poachers stand to earn significantly more by killing a rhino than a landowner can get by selling or conserving it,” the document states.
Moreover, since local live trade in white rhinos is almost non-existent, private landowners lack the financial incentives to hold them, as economic gains remain unrealised.
Important population
Namibia holds the second-largest white rhino population globally, after South Africa.
Between 2005 and 2024, the overall population growth rate was 6.7% annually, including imports from South Africa.
Currently, 1 161 white rhinos are privately owned, while 339 remain under state ownership across four protected areas.
The document states that domestic consumptive use of white rhinos is not permitted in Namibia, nor is any trade in rhino horn.
It adds that tourism revenue related to rhinos is difficult to isolate and does not typically increase with higher rhino numbers.
“Because security costs and poaching risks rise steeply with larger populations, many properties keep minimal numbers of rhinos or none at all.”
Between 2022 and 2024, 43 white rhinos were hunted in Namibia, averaging about 14 per year, equivalent to just 0.9% of the population, well below annual recruitment rates.
Adult males are sometimes dehorned for safety or management, limiting potential trophy hunts.
Namibia has also exported 124 white rhinos since 2022 to Angola, South Africa, Zambia and the US.
It would also stimulate private ownership of white rhinos while expanding the animals' habitats nationwide.
The country's arguments in favour of legal trade are contained in a proposal to the 20th Conference of the Parties (CoP20) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Namibia is seeking an amendment to the annotation of its southern white rhino population within CITES Appendix II. CoP20 will take place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from 24 November to 5 December.
According to the proposal, the amendment would allow international trade in live animals for in-situ conservation only, hunting trophies and trade in rhino horn stocks owned by the government and private landowners.
It would exclude seized rhino horns and horns of unknown origin.
Strict controls
The proposal noted that legalised horn trade, managed under rigorous permit systems, DNA verification and quotas, would motivate rhino custodians to retain and expand their rhino populations, shifting the economic balance away from poaching and toward legal, live conservation.
“The government of Namibia proposes an initial, closely monitored phase, capped at 200 kilograms of horn per year.”
It says authorities would observe poaching rates, rhino population trends and trade volumes.
“If negative consequences arise, such as an increase in illegal offtake, the government stands prepared to suspend or revise quotas. This adaptive approach mitigates risk while testing the potential for a transformative conservation strategy.”
Costly business
Namibia’s white rhino population remains under persistent threat from illegal poaching, the proposal warns.
Approximately 77% of Namibia’s white rhinos live on privately owned freehold land.
"In response to growing poaching risks, these private landowners have shouldered steep security costs, including upgraded fencing, ranger patrols and surveillance systems," the document states.
Many owners have been compelled to reduce or dispose of their herds entirely due to these challenges.
“Unfortunately, whenever private owners remove rhinos from their properties, the total amount of white rhinoceros habitat in Namibia decreases.”
The document further notes that private landowners who do continue to keep white rhinos typically rely on three possible revenue streams, namely tourism, trophy hunting and live animal sales, to cover protection expenses.
“Yet even in combination, these income sources often fall short," the document notes.
Consequently, 12 million hectares of freehold land suitable for white rhinos remain largely unused for conservation.
“Without robust economic incentives, private landowners have little reason to dedicate or expand this valuable habitat for rhinos.”
Poachers pays well
According to the proposal, current black-market prices for rhino horn can reach around US$20 000 per kilogram (N$354 000 at the current exchange rate).
This means a single large rhino horn may be worth between US$80 000 and US$120 000 (N$1.46 million to N$2.12 million).
By comparison, the document notes, a live white rhino usually sells for about US$10 000 (N$177 000), a difference of about eight to 12 times less.
“This disparity spurs illegal hunting, as poachers stand to earn significantly more by killing a rhino than a landowner can get by selling or conserving it,” the document states.
Moreover, since local live trade in white rhinos is almost non-existent, private landowners lack the financial incentives to hold them, as economic gains remain unrealised.
Important population
Namibia holds the second-largest white rhino population globally, after South Africa.
Between 2005 and 2024, the overall population growth rate was 6.7% annually, including imports from South Africa.
Currently, 1 161 white rhinos are privately owned, while 339 remain under state ownership across four protected areas.
The document states that domestic consumptive use of white rhinos is not permitted in Namibia, nor is any trade in rhino horn.
It adds that tourism revenue related to rhinos is difficult to isolate and does not typically increase with higher rhino numbers.
“Because security costs and poaching risks rise steeply with larger populations, many properties keep minimal numbers of rhinos or none at all.”
Between 2022 and 2024, 43 white rhinos were hunted in Namibia, averaging about 14 per year, equivalent to just 0.9% of the population, well below annual recruitment rates.
Adult males are sometimes dehorned for safety or management, limiting potential trophy hunts.
Namibia has also exported 124 white rhinos since 2022 to Angola, South Africa, Zambia and the US.
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