THE 13th Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) currently being held in Bangkok, Thailand, has permitted Namibia and South Africa to each kill five endangered black rhinos per year, according to News24. According to the article, the move will allow hunters to kill the endangered rhinos and export them as trophies, such as stuffed animals and heads. Both countries told the convention that only male black rhinos over 30 years old would be targeted, arguing that ageing dominant males often prevented younger males from mating. Wildlife groups including the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the UK-based Born Free Foundation protested the move. "This says it's alright for a rich white hunter to shoot a rhino for a trophy but not for a local person to use it as a traditional dagger handle or medicine, and if the law seems unjust it is much harder to enforce," Born Free spokesperson Ian Redmond reportedly told AFP. The WWF also raised concerns about how money earned from the hunting of SA's black rhinos would be spent. "We are not convinced the money generated from the potential income will benefit local communities," the WWF said in a statement released after the decision. (Lucy Siebert)
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