COPY OF A LETTER ADDRESSED TO:
The Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries
Environment House
473 Steve Biko Road
Arcadia
Pretoria
0083
email: fshaik@environment.gov.za
tzikalala@environment.gov.za
15th August 2019
Attention: The Minister of the Environment, Forestry and Fisheries
“Their Future is Dark” THE RHINO HORN TRADE 2019
The history surrounding the demand for African rhino horn is complex. During the European colonial era trophy hunting was largely responsible for the decimation of the rhino populations, for decades thereafter the uncontrollable illegal rhino horn trade between Africa and Vietnam and China is to blame.
Traditionally, once removed the horn was polished to a beautiful translucent hue and carved to make magnificent ornaments, or the horn was ground down into a fine powder and used in traditional Asian medicine, but increasingly rhino horn is now being used as a status symbol to display success and wealth.
Continue reading “THEIR FUTURE IS DARK – THE RHINO HORN TRADE – A LETTER TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS, FORESTRY AND FISHERIES”