South Africa considers legalizing rhino horn trade

[Luiz 4,253]

KLERKSDORP, South Africa - South Africa will decide this month whether to push to end a global ban on buying and selling rhino horn, a move that could unlock a $2 billion bonanza and determine the fate of a critically endangered species.

Rhino horn is prized in Asia for use in traditional remedies and surging demand has meant more poaching. A record 1,305 of the animals were illegally killed in Africa last year. Buying and selling rhino horn internationally was banned in 1977.

But opponents of that ban say that, as rhinoceros' horns grow back if cut from a living animal, a properly monitored legal trade could help save the rhinos, rather than condemn them to extinction.

The stakes are high. The government has not revealed the size of its rhino horn stockpile - those seized from smugglers as well as ones cut from animals that died naturally - but the Private Rhino Owners Association estimates its members have around 6 tonnes and reckons the state has close to 25 tonnes.

Rhino horn on the street in Asia sells for around $65,000 per kg, according to off-the-record estimates by conservationists, so 30 tonnes could generate up to around $2 billion.

Supporters of legalizing the trade say the money could be used for conservation by the South African government, whose finances are under mounting pressure as it faces possible debt ratings downgrades that could see its borrowing costs balloon.

 

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/species-fate-at-stake-as-south-africa-considers-rhino-horn-trade/

[Gallus 1,525]

This world is ****ed up right now!

[AddMeOnMYSPACE 2,095]

Mind as well...they're already going extinct. No point in trying to save them 

[weed 78,875]

Instead of killing them, let's just torture them!

[En_Sabah_Nur 9,366]

Thank god for zoos...!  Despite so many animal rights activists HATING & wanting to ABOLISH zoos over the years...  Now we see why they are necessary.  Because some people on this planet are just out right determined to make certain animals species go extinct, and the only ones left of that particular species will be in zoos!  

[Evan Peters 10,776]

2 hours ago, AddMeOnMYSPACE said:

Mind as well...they're already going extinct. No point in trying to save them 

 yeah, that's the right mindset to have. 

[AddMeOnMYSPACE 2,095]

20 minutes ago, Evan Peters said:

 yeah, that's the right mindset to have. 

People are still gonna poach. Legal or Not. If you wanna stop animal slaughtering than stop these rich industries that use animal fur for their product (which will never happen) 

 its just the sad fact about humanity. Sorry.

[SychosSoChic 9,995]

3 hours ago, Luiz said:

whose finances are under mounting pressure as it faces possible debt ratings downgrades that could see its borrowing costs balloon.

BECAUSE MY INGRATE CYST OF A PRESIDENT DECIDED TO REPLACE OUR GAWD OF A FINANCE MINISTER WITH A GUY WHO DOESN'T EVEN HAVE A DEGREE, AND ONLY QUALIFICATION IS BEING THE MAYOR OF A 2 BIT BACKWATER TOWN. RESEARCH SHOWED THAT HE ABSOLUTELY SUCKED AT BEING MAYOR. HOW THE HELL DID HE GET ELECTED?

AND THEN AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS REPLACING THAT MINISTER WITH ANOTHER ONE.

AND THEN ANOTHER, AS THE VALUE OF OUR CURRENCY PLUMMETED TO THE GROUND LIKE BIONIC ON THE CHARTS.

AND YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY?

BECAUSE HE WANTED A NEW JET AND THE FIRST MINISTER TOLD HIM WE COULDN'T AFFORD IT AND THE PRESIDENT HAD A TANTRUM.

My country is one leg in recession and sinking deep, and another leg tiptoeing on genocide. Racial tensions sparking but getting a little better, and it has never been more expensive to live here

We lost so many investors when my corrupt cyst of a president grew hot n cold with his ministers that I don't see ANY other way out of this, and this isn't a road I want us taking. Especially when you consider how most of that money is going to end up buying some minister's mansion in the Western Cape

I literally cannot with the path my government is taking, and I am scared sh!tless because they would never risk this kind of backlash unless it were their only option.

Elections are coming though, hopefully this convinces enough people to vote for the DA party. The ANC isn't what it used to be under the leadership of Mbeki and Mandela. Even Desmond Tutu denounced the ANC party and he was here back before wanting to end Apartheid was cool

Sorry I've just been keeping this in and this just blew me up

[Fiona Apple 13,006]

26 minutes ago, AddMeOnMYSPACE said:

People are still gonna poach. Legal or Not. If you wanna stop animal slaughtering than stop these rich industries that use animal fur for their product (which will never happen) 

 its just the sad fact about humanity. Sorry.

And also the FOOD industries which are X1500 worse than the fur ones but nobody talks about them because they eat meat.. 

[Bear 7,515]

37 minutes ago, Britney Spears said:

And also the FOOD industries which are X1500 worse than the fur ones but nobody talks about them because they eat meat.. 

Exactly! It always seems like a huge double standard to me.

In my opinion if you are going to farm an animal it should be ethical, and it should be sustainable- whether it's meat or fur or even something else, do so responsibly. In this case it is neither and is an incredibly stupid move.