The astronomical price of rhino horn is driven by demand in Asia that has fuelled the current epidemic of rhino poaching in South Africa. Although the horn can only be sold within South Africa, where the business language is English, the rhino horn auction website is in English, Vietnamese and Chinese. It seems very likely that most of rhino horn will end up in Asia via South Africa based purchasers with links to the international crime cartels that control the illegal trade in rhino horn. The flaw in the rhino breeders’ business model is that the market for rhino horn in South Africa is negligible. Kill demand: A massive campaign is needed to convince people in China and Vietnam that rhino horn has no significant medicinal value and to stigmatise the purchase of rhino horn.

Source: The Guardian August 25, 2017 05:05 UTC