South African court allows local rhino horns trade, conservatives fear rise in poaching

A South African court ruled Thursday a regulated local trade in rhino horns, which environmental conservatives fear would only increase the record breaking slaughtering of the endangered animal.

In Yahoo News, the decision, which was ruled by Judge Francis Legodi in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria, triggered an argument whether regulating the trade would increase poaching and rhino breeders or lead these cases to a decline. Meanwhile, South Africa's environment ministry will appeal to the decision to withdraw a 7-year-old moratorium on local rhino horns trade. This means, there will be no ban on rhino horns trade until the outcome of the appeal is given.

BBC reported that the decision was made before the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) meeting in Johannesburg next year. This meeting is vital in lifting the ban on rhino horns trade. Last year, a record breaking 1,215 rhinos were killed for their horns.

Meanwhile, private rhino breeders claim that selling the horns legally could regulate the trade and curb the profitable black market.

In a report by The Citizen, Izak du Toit, an attorney to rhino breeder John Hume, said it is very difficult to protect rhinos. He said, "You need soldiers with automatic firearms, night vision, helicopters... If you don't, you're simply outgunned." Hume is very happy with the decision, saying if he won't be able to sell rhino horns, his whole herd of rhinos would be dead in the next decade. The security cost of protecting the rhinos has skyrocketed, he said.

South African anti-poaching group founder Allison Thomson said she was disappointed by the decision. Meanwhile the International Fund for Animal Welfare said legalizing the trade in South Africa will only become a precedent to legalize the trade for rhino horns in the international market.