The South African Supreme Court of Appeal has dismissed the government’s bid to\u00a0uphold a 7-year ban of the local trade of rhino horn.<\/p>\n
According to a report by Reuters, Pelham Jones, chairman of South Africa’s Private Rhino Owners Association (PROA) estimated that its members have around 6 tonnes of rhino horn, and reckons the state has close to 25 tonnes.<\/p>\n
The combined 31 tonnes\u00a0is estimated to be worth as much as R31.5 billion.<\/p>\n
Approximately 5,000 rhinos are in private hands- about a quarter of the country’s rhino population.\u00a0Rhino horn can be harvested as it grows back and it can be removed from a tranquilised animal, Reuters said<\/a>.<\/p>\n Supporters of rhino horn trade say the money earned could be used for conservation and to pay for security.<\/p>\n Opponents say that\u00a0legal trade could tempt poachers who kill rhinos to launder their “blood” horns with clean supplies.<\/p>\n Thousands of South African rhinos have been slain in recent years to meet demand for the horn in Asian countries, where buyers consider it an aphrodisiac, a cure for cancer or treatment for hangovers.<\/p>\n The ruling has no impact on the status of international trade in rhino horn, which remains illegal.<\/p>\n Domestic trade in rhino horn was banned in 2009, which was challenged by rhino owners in court\u00a0in 2015.<\/p>\n Buyers and sellers of the commodity need to get permits\u00a0to trade.<\/p>\n \u201cSpy-cam\u201d rhinos to take on poachers<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n SA loses R1.3 billion to rhino poaching<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nMore on wildlife<\/h3>\n