Should South African game auctions exclude trophy hunt operators from acquiring rhinos?
As increasing evidence suggests that some of South Africa’s legal trophy hunts are linked to illegal rhino horn trade, perhaps it is time take a closer look at game auctions that provide rhinos to professional hunters and trophy hunt operators. The current controversy surrounding Shamwari Game Reserve’s apparent willingness to sell rhinos to professional hunters at its upcoming wildlife auction has prompted a closer look at the role that game auctions could be playing in the illegal rhino horn trade. Background: Trophy hunt operators and their Vietnamese “clients” Now that Vietnam and China have been identified as the main destinations for illegal rhino horn, the unusual rise of Vietnamese trophy hunting “clients” has attracted the attention of South African authorities. A recent report prepared by the IUCN/SSC and TRAFFIC for CITES found a disturbing increase in Vietnamese trophy hunting “clients” who appear to be exploiting hunting loopholes to acquire rhino horn. Sizeable trade in t
