The number of rhinos illegally killed in South Africa between January 1st and October 16th, 2012, has reached 455 — exceeding 2011’s total of 448 victims.
207 suspects have been arrested in South Africa for rhino crimes during the same time period. Of the 455 rhinos lost to the illegal trade, 272 were killed in the famous Kruger National Park. The provinces of KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and the North West continue to be targeted, collectively accounting for 150 rhinos killed.
Rhino horn is generally destined for illegal markets in China and Vietnam. Rhino horn has officially been removed from the Chinese medicine pharmacopeia; however, its use in China continues. Non-traditional uses for rhino horn — such as a hangover cure or general health tonic — have emerged among the newly rich in Vietnam.
There is no evidence to support claims of rhino horn’s medicinal effectiveness.
South Africa did not submit a legal rhino horn trade proposal for the upcoming CITES CoP16 — encouraging news, considering the world’s leading wildlife trade experts agree that a legal rhino trade in South Africa will not solve the country’s rhino crisis.
Source: South Africa Department of Environmental Affairs
Rhishja Cota
I am the founder of Annamiticus and I have been researching and writing about wildlife trafficking issues since 2009. I also founded World Pangolin Day in 2012. I am the author of USAID Wildlife Asia's Pangolin Species Identification Guide: A Rapid Assessment Tool for Field and Desk. I co-facilitated and was a presenter at the USAID Wildlife Asia Pangolin Care Workshop. At the 4th Regional Dialogue on Combating Trafficking of Wild Fauna and Flora, I facilitated the species roundtables on pangolins. I have trekked with forest rangers in Cambodia, journeyed to the streets of Hanoi to research the illegal wildlife trade, and to the rainforests of Sumatra and Java to document the world’s rarest rhinos. At CITES meetings, I collaborate with colleagues from around the world to lobby in favor of protecting endangered species. I hosted the Behind the Schemes podcast and am the author of the book Murder, Myths & Medicine. I enjoy music, desert gardening, herping, reading, creating, and walking with my dogs. Check out my t-shirts and stickers at snoots + teefers.