Legal Trade in Rhino Horn Could Stem Poaching, South African Breeders Say; Others Disagree

U.S. News & World Report ^ | 6/24

[nickcarraway]

Calling rhino horns a renewable resource, rhino breeders and game reserve owners have taken the South African government to court to try to overturn its ban on the domestic trade of rhino horn.

They maintain that harvesting the horn from the living rhinos at their ranches and selling it legally will drive poachers currently slaughtering the endangered animals out of business.

"It is in the public interest that the moratorium be lifted and that private rhino owners be able to trade rhino horn in South Africa," said Izak du Toit, a lawyer representing one of the rhino owners in the civil court case filed last week.

[yefragetuwrabrumuy]

Meanwhile a company is planning to mass produce faux rhino horn that will even pass a DNA test.

http://www.digitaljournal.com/news/environment/biotech-firm-creates-fake-rhino-horn-to-help-save-real-rhinos/article/436325

[Tax-chick]

However, it is unclear whether poachers would be willing to fork over money to buy rhino horn legally and whether legalized South African rhino horn stocks could fill consumer demand.

Indeed, it is unclear. It's possible that legally harvested and traded horns would be completely inadequate to meet the demand, and that there would be no reduction in illegal hunting and sales. It's possible there would be some reduction.

[Tax-chick]

LOL - brilliant!

[hinckley buzzard]

If you want to insure a reliable supply of rhinos, or any other endangered species, find a way to get them into the market economy. The economic incentive to maintain a profitable supply will solve the scarcity problem in short order.

Make domesticated rhino horn a legal product and you will have rhino ranches springing up, with growing herds. Legal providers will see to it that illegal competition is stifled.

[a fool in paradise]

But DOES IT REALLY WORK as an aphrodisiac?

Bill Cosby and Hugh Hefner wanna know!

[EinNYC]

How stupid to think that a pile of keratin will cure their limp members. Might as well eat fingernail snippings.