South African, John Hume is holding an on-line auction for 500KG’s of his own rhino horn on the 21st August 2017. 

The website advertising the auction is written in English, Vietnamese and Chinese.  

We condemn this short sighted and potentially dangerous attempt to enrich the life of John Hume and all the organisations involved with this abhorrent auction in the name of conservation.

While it is legal to purchase rhino horn in South Africa.  It is illegal to import rhino horn into China or Vietnam for commercial, medical or personal use.

We believe that this auction will encourage poaching and that this poached horn will enter the South African legal trade market.  There is no way to tell the difference between poached and farmed rhino horn.

South Africa has not been able to control the illegal trade in rhino horn it does not have the capacity to control a legal trade.

There is no evidence that the sale of farmed rhino horn will have a positive impact on the rhino poaching crisis in South Africa.  This on-line auction is risking the conservation of the rhino species.

The RHINOS IN AFRICA FOUNDATION and The GLOBAL MARCH FOR ELEPHANTS AND RHINOS ORGANISATION are appealing to the South African Department of Environmental Affairs not to issue permits for this auction and to shut down this website.

SIGNED

Rhinos in Africa Foundation

Global March for Elephants and Rhinos Organisation