Two suspected rhino horn dealers are scheduled to appear in court again in January 2011.
The case involving alleged rhino horn dealers, Jan Karel Pieter Els and Tom Fourie, has reportedly been postponed until January 28th, pending further investigation. Els was granted R30,000 bail last month by the Musina Magistrate’s Court, and Fourie was released earlier on R5, 000.
It is believed that Els purchased 36 rhino horns from Fourie, a known figure among South African conservationists.
Fourie is said to have dehorned the rhinos for the purpose of selling the horns to Els.
Authorities suspect the pair had planned to cash in on the lucrative illegal market for rhino horn, which has claimed the lives of an estimated 227 rhinos so far this year in South Africa.
Illegal rhino horn destined for China and Vietnam
Research conducted by the wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC found that most rhino horns leaving southern Africa are being smuggled to China and Vietnam.
In addition, it has been noted that the growing Chinese footprint in southern Africa has placed the demand for rhino horn dangerously close to the supply.
No medicinal properties in rhino horn
Despite the scientific evidence that rhino horn has no medicinal value, the continued use of illegal rhino horn in traditional medicines in China and Vietnam poses the greatest threat to rhinos today.
Rhino horn has historically been prescribed for a wide range of ailments, including fever, anxiety, boils – and even “devil possession”.
Source: News24
Image: Wikimedia Commons
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