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Posted: 4th March 2013

Calls for the rhino horn trade to be legalised
Researchers say lifting the ban could save the species

 Writing in Science journal, a group of environmental researchers have called for the trade in rhino horns to be legalised, believing this could be an antidote to poaching. The authors argue that a global ban has failed to curb the "insatiable international demand", and suggest the market could be met by humanely shaving the horns of live rhino.

Lead author Dr Duan Biggs from the University of Queensland says poaching is now out of control, with an estimated two rhinos being lost to poaching every day. "The current situation is failing, the longer we wait to put in place a legal trade the more rhinos we lose," he said. "It is an urgent issue, we must start the process of getting a legal trade evaluated and put in place soon."

Trade in rhino horn is currently prohibited under the Convention on international trade in endangered species (Cites). According to the Science paper however, the ban is inadvertently boosting illegal poaching by restricting the supply of rhino horn, thereby driving up the price. In 1993 1kg sold for around $4,700, whereas in 2012 the same weight was selling for $65,000.

Researchers argue that humanely shaving the horns of live rhinos could generate enough material to satiate the global demand. Rhino horns grow about 0.9kg of horn each year, and according to scientists horn "harvesting" poses minimal risks to the animals. Authors of the research suggest a central selling organisation could DNA fingerprint the shavings and control the market.

Many wildlife campaigners disagree however. Dr Colman O'Criodain, a wildlife trade policy analyst with WWF said: "We don't support the idea of legalised trade at this time because we just don't think it is enforceable. The markets where the trade would be directed, particularly Vietnam, we aren't satisfied that they have the enforcement regime in place that would prevent the laundering of wild rhino through this route."

"We don't think it would stop the poaching crisis, we think the legal trade could make it worse," he added.

Dr Biggs and colleagues however, have pointed out past experiences with crocodiles has proved a legalised trading regime can be beneficial to threatened species. "There has been a very successful legal trade for some time now which has more or less eradicated pressures on wild crocodile populations," he said. "We have strong evidence that it works and the crocodile example shows it can work in low income countries and those without a strong governance structure."

A Cites meeting opened yesterday in Bangkok, with delegates from 177 countries attending to discuss the issue of poaching. The meeting was opened with a video address from Prince William, who said the illegal trade in ivory has reached a "shocking level."

Whilst no proposal to lift the ban is on the table, the South African government is reportedly investigating the issue and says that discussions during the meeting will guide their position. 



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