Legalising International Trade in Rhino Horn ???

[Richprins]

We can make money out of their culture!

We buy all their crap anyway...time for payback! -O

[Penga Ndlovu]

We can make money out of their culture!

We buy all their crap anyway...time for payback! -O

Now that is what I call a bullcrap answer.

I expected a well thought through answer from you RP.
Not a "if you can't beat them join them" answer.

[iNdlovu]

Check the smilies PN, it was said tongue in cheek. Let's keep it cool here guys.

[Penga Ndlovu]

Saw that Boss.

Just do not care to see it that way.

[iNdlovu]

Try seeing it the way it was intended, makes for a happy place.

[iNdlovu]

I have given this topic a heck of a lot of thought. I can see some merit in the idea, but this is definitely not the time to do it. The following is my opinion, but others may have other ideas and that's OK, maybe with all the ideas we can come up with something.

All of these things need to happen at the same time.

Stamp out or at least get poaching reasonably under control by:
Get the fence back up between Kruger and Moz and allocate more men to patrol the border. Don't forget the Zimbabweans from the north.
Our judiciary needs to join the party in getting those arrested convicted.

Save every orphan and get them to one of the orphanages.
re-locate some diverse breeding stock and get these animals to secure conservancies ASAP

Get the international community involved in educating the people in user countries that rhino horn and lion bones do nothing for them
continue with the MOA's with the eastern countries to tighten up regulations in movement of horn.

By tightening up on the poachers and middlemen as well as educating users, we should eventually see a reduction in demand and by saving orphans and re-locating adults we will hopefully buy time to see results. Only once we see results, do we slowly open up regulated trade in horn which will drive prices further down, making it unprofitable for the black marketeers to operate. Meanwhile we have future breeding animals stashed away to rebuild the wild population once it is safe to do so.

To open up trade now when, profits are so high and ignorance is so embedded, would be a disaster. Those that hold stock piles of horn will probably not agree with waiting as they would be selling into a depressed market, but hey, this is not about people making a fortune, it is about saving our rhino.

[Richprins]

Well thought-out, Boss!

Legalisation will take many years anyway, unless an urgent application is launched.

[Penga Ndlovu]

Well thought out indeed Boss.

Only for one thing.

The fence will not keep the human animals out.
They cut fences.

But it will certainly keep the other animals in and will prevent them from getting poached there.

The average lifespan of a Rhino that crosses the Moz border is about 48 hours.

[Flutterby]

Interesting thoughts iNdy, and could be the way to go. I think the most urgent need is to get the army patrolling the border immediately!!

[Penga Ndlovu]

Try seeing it the way it was intended, makes for a happy place.

It looked more condesending to me.

But I suppose it could be seen both ways.