Three-Day Online Rhino Horns Auction Starts In South Africa

Trade of rhino horns are banned and amid such legal stress in the African countries a controversial permit has been given by South Africa.

John Hume, the owner of world’s largest rhino farm, is organizing the three-day selloff of the controversial product.

Hume said without any hiccup the online auction of rhino horns will start at 1200 GMT on Wednesday.

Hume owns about 1,500 rhinos at his farm located north of Johannesburg and has stockpiled six tonnes of rhino horns, but would be selling off just 264 pieces weighing 500 kg though the online auction.

He said the horns are harvested legally by a technique that is humane and wards off poachers.

According to Hume the rhinos are first tranqulized and then dehorned.

However, opposition says the permission to conduct online auction will encourage poachers and it may fuel trafficking.

Activists add the auction will also undermine a 40-year global ban on the rhino trade.

Animal protection charity Humane Society said, “Any domestic trade in rhino horn undermines enforcement and demand reduction efforts to battle wildlife trafficking in the rest of Africa, China, Vietnam.”

The South African government said an audit of Hume’s stock is underway to know whether the horns are illegally-obtained horns.

Meanwhile, breeders say if the government open trade it will stop poachers from slaughtering.

Rhino is an endangered animal and all the African countries are working on policies to save the animal.