Please enter your login details

You can also sign in with your Sowetan LIVE
and Sport LIVE account details.
   Sign Up   Forgot password?

Sign in with:

 
  • All Share : 40998.58
    UP 0.35%
    Top 40 : 3361.59
    UP 0.32%
    Financial 15 : 11703.85
    UP 0.13%
    Industrial 25 : 46637.62
    UP 0.59%

  • ZAR/USD : 9.5768
    UP 0.62%
    ZAR/GBP : 14.4820
    UP 0.75%
    ZAR/EUR : 12.3697
    UP 0.37%
    ZAR/JPY : 0.0948
    UP 1.48%
    ZAR/AUD : 9.2621
    DOWN -0.05%

  • Gold : 1387.4050
    DOWN -0.30%
    Platinum : 1454.5000
    DOWN -0.10%
    Silver : 22.5395
    DOWN -0.15%
    Palladium : 727.0000
    DOWN -0.82%
    Brent Crude Oil : 102.270
    DOWN -0.17%

  • All data is delayed by 15 min. Data supplied by I-Net Bridge
    Hover cursor over this ticker to pause.

Fri May 24 18:31:21 SAST 2013

Lose horn, save rhino: iLIVE

Terence Grant, Cape Town | 23 October, 2012 00:45
381 rhinos have been killed in SA since the beginning of this year

It seems to me it is much easier to poach rhino horn with the support of the local population than without it, and that, therefore, we should allow rhino horn to be legally harvested ("Poaching season is near", yesterday).

This would be on condition the permit-holder devotes a percentage of profits to uplifting the local populace, thereby giving locals a powerful incentive to side with conservationists against poachers. Apparently, the horn can be removed without causing too much trauma and grows back fairly quickly, yielding a steady income.

In an environment devoid of apex predators like lions, the loss of the horn is probably not worth getting excited about.

SHARE YOUR OPINION

If you have an opinion you would like to share on this article, please send us an e-mail to the Times LIVE iLIVE team. In the mean time, click here to view the Times LIVE iLIVE section.