Things continue to get interesting in efforts to save the rhino. This time the South African government’s plan to aide in rhino conservation is to sell them.
In the past two years, the Kruger National Park (home to the largest rhino population on the planet), has sold more than 170 white rhinos to private ranches across the country. According to Edna Molewa, the Minister of Environmental Affairs, this is a necessary move to improve the white rhino population by establishing smaller groups in different ranches.
In addition to preserving the species, this generates income for the Kruger National Park.
The current rhino death toll stands at 645 for 2013. The KNP accounts for 381 of them, despite help from the army, helicopters and drones.
But isn’t a rhino living on a ranch just as vulnerable to poaching as one living in the park? In addition, how can the motives of ranchers be trusted, especially considering they are the ones who support legalizing the trade in order to turn a profit? Most importantly-WHO is buying the rhino?
Fight for Rhinos 
Reblogged this on Sherlockian's Blog.
I have to agree with you on this. Although I can understand the need to move Rhino (and other species) around to eliminate in-breeding etc, but and I feel this is a big BUT – the majority of Rhino owners/ranchers are pro-trade, so how can we be assured that the Rhino on these farms are going to be safe and not find their way onto the eastern markets either by killing (we’ve already had that scenario) or by storage of horn until trade is legalised, thereby treating their Rhino as a /cash cow’.. Personally I feel the only way to protect our Rhino, Elephant, Lion, Leopard, Cheetah etc., is to stop all trade and hunting until we know just who is at the bottom of this and by who, I mean the people in Africa and South Africa. The poachers are getting caught on occassion but too little too late – they only seem to be caught after they have slaughtered their target. Education of the East is all well and good but we are dealing with a civilisation older then the Western civilisation, we are not going to change their minds that quickly, also now that China, Vietnam etc are experiencing economic upliftment more and more people are finding or putting themselves in a position to be able to buy these products – which I understand are mainly for status reasons rather than health reasons. Just my humble opinion.
Well said Lyn!
Hi. I am South African and know that animal lovers feel desperate about these criminal syndicates. Often the criminals are part of the system:) Lyn, you are right in that Rhino horns are seen as a status symbol. Check out this survey done by WWF- SA. http://www.news24.com/Green/News/Rhino-horn-seen-as-a-status-symbol-says-WWF-20130917
There is an anti-rhino poaching organisation RAGE, that is trying every method available to stop this scourge on our wildlife. Unfortunately there are so many desperate people in Africa who will do anything for money:(
Very suspect. It is as though they are just being held
on the ranches until the highest bidder comes along, I agree with Lyn, we need to step up security in South Africa to sniff out the inside “friends” of poachers.