https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-05-08-john-humes-platinum-rhino-project-has-no-viable-business-model-that-bodes-ill-for-big-critter-conservation/

John Hume believed that the rhino horn trade would be legalised and he purchased rhino and began breeding intensively with them.  He has been stockpiling the horn removed from the rhino for many years. 

In 2019 he attempted to sell 181 rhino horn from his stockpile but this was thwarted by the Directorate of Priority Crime the people transporting the horn on his behalf were fined and the 181 rhino horns were confiscated. 

In April 2023 John Hume advertised his breeding operation which includes an 8000 hectare farm and approximately 2000 rhino, which are not wild, on auction.

The auction failed to attract any interest. 

The international ban on the trade in rhino horn has been in place since 1977.