2. Hunting trophy sales and antiques auctions
In a troubling testament to the enormity and pervasiveness of the illegal rhino horn trade, would-be rhino horn buyers are attempting to reach out to the taxidermy industry.
Unfortunately, antique auctions have already been infected by questionable clients who have paid record prices for antique rhino horn mounts before shipping them overseas.
The European Taxidermy Federation (ETF) issued a warning last month to its members that “suspicious” buyers were posing as representatives seeking African trophies – rhino horn in particular – for castles or museums.
The buyers claim that they are from Ireland or Great Britain and that they have a friend or customer who has a castle, museum or hotel where they want to build up a collection of African trophies. However, it appears that their primary interest is in rhino horn.
A perusal of the U.S.-based Taxidermy.net‘s public forum revealed that several members have been contacted in a similar manner.
One member warned about a phone call:
I got your number off taxidermy net. I am from Ireland but live in Brazil. I am looking to buy African mounts and horns and capes, especially a rhino. I have lots of money and can pay cash.
Others reported receiving the following email from a “John Sullivan” seeking a rhino head mount for the grand opening of a hotel:
Hi, this is john Sullivan here from Ireland, I’m having a grand theme opening of an African seen here in my hotel in Kerry,Ireland.The thing is I’m having grate trouble in locating a real rhino head or horn in Ireland and a local taxidermy told me to email u on the off chance that u might be able to locate this item for me or refer some person or company or even auction that might have one for sale,it has to be the real item and not a fiberglass reproduction. It would be very much appreciated if u could get back to me with good news within a week or 2 as the grand opening will be on 4/sep/2010 and we really need this item.
As this is a fairly recent development, data confirming whether or not rhino trophies sold by ETF members or U.S. taxidermists have entered the illegal market is not yet publicly available.
According to the Antiques Trade Gazette, the U.K. is expected to issue an export ban on antique rhino horn mounts.
We have seen a significant increase in the illegal trade alongside a large increase in the number of requests made for the export of big game trophies. There is a strong suspicion that [old rhinoceros trophies] are fuelling the market for traditional medicines in China.
It was also noted that there was a correlation between the unprecedented rise in rhino poaching and “spectacular prices” realized from rhino horn at public auction, and that Taiwanese, Korean, and Chinese are the main buyers of rhino horn for export.
Last month, Tennants received a record £106,000 (USD $164,046) for a rhinoceros horn mount.
The buyer was from mainland China. Next page >>
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From what I have read in the above article it just shows that unfortunately money is the main enemy here in the fight to save our beloved rhino. It is a sadness that the hunters have now taken advantage to gain more with the trophy hunting and as you say the Vietnamese are willing to pay more so the hunters are jumping at it. It is totally unbeleivable how these murderers have open access to fly into the National Park of their choice and drop poachers and pick out their rhino delight of the day. My mind boggles at the thought, these hunters must be laughing at how easy it has all been over the years, picking their choice and raking in the bucks.
It must be so hard for the conservation guys to try and control all this, these hot shots have got the money and they unfortunately have ruled. These reports need to go to the top to reach someone there who will care and put forward legislation to ban all this and control it. The Save the Rhino organisation must get disheartened daily with each culling and little done or said. My heart goes out to you.
Hi Ann -
Thank you so much for your comment and for helping to spread the word.
This activity has been thriving in secret for too long. We are working towards the opportunity to pull back the curtain and hold people responsible for their actions.
- Rhishja