Sidestepping the Ban
A Reckless Gambit for Global Rhino Horn Trade
Rhino breeders in South Africa are attempting to bend international wildlife trade regulations to their will and undermine decades of South African law to circumvent the ban on international rhino horn trade. A South African game reserve owner, Hendrick “Wicus” Diedericks, has sued the government in an effort to compel it to authorize the export of at least 502 rhino horns to prospective buyers in eight different locations including Canada, China, Hong Kong SAR, Japan, Laos, Mongolia, the USA, and Vietnam.
As the case makes its way through the South African legal system, EIA has reviewed documents containing the names and contact details for the prospective importers of the rhino horn that were submitted to the government by Diedericks. The information supplied for several of the importers appears to be incomplete and/or inaccurate. For others, the reported destination raises suspicions that the horn may be destined for illegal trade.
If rhino horn is exported from South Africa for commercial and medicinal purposes, it would have devastating consequences for wild rhino populations by increasing demand, undermining enforcement, and resulting in increased poaching and rhino horn trafficking.
Learn more about this legal battle for the future of the world’s rhinos in our interactive report.
