1.

RHINO HORN TRADE

• Rhino horn used for dagger handles

YEMEN
• a sign of social status

• Rhino horn used for Traditional

CHINA Chinese Medicine
• It's a status symbol

• Rhino horn used for recreational drugs

VIETNAM
• status symbol
 THE RHINO HORN TRADE MARKETS

※ the transnational trade in rhinoceros’ horn has two main markets

TRADE MARKETS

Yemeni Asia

THE YEMENI TRADE MARKET

carved
traditional carried by a sign of
rhino horn
daggers or Yemeni social
handles
jambiya men status.
for
※ THE IMPORT OF RHINO HORN WAS BANNED IN YEMEN IN 1982
 the demand for horn has slowly reduced
 the demand is now met from substitutes such as
 water buffalo horn
 plastic rhino horn

※ YEMEN NO LONGER TAKE PART IN THE ILLEGAL RHINO HORN TRADE

 There is still a constant demand for rhino horn jambiyas among
 northern tribesmen
 young wealthy men in the capital Sana’a

THE ASIA MARKET

※ The trade of rhino horn in China goes back as far as 2600 BC
※ In ancient times people believed rhino horn cups were capable of indicating if the liquid was
poisonous

rhino horn is
In traditional
ground to a and taken orally
Chinese medicine
powder
※ IN TCM RHINO HORN IS BELIEVED TO HAVE CURATIVE PROPERTIES SUCH AS

hangover palliation of
rheumatism gout stroke
relief fever

※ A recent rumour that rhino horn can cure cancer has caused an increase in the demand for
rhino horn in Vietnam

※ THERE IS NO SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE OF ANY MEDICINAL VALUE IN RHINO HORN

 Rhino horn is composed of keratin just like human hair & fingernails
 This has not eliminated demand
 This resulted in most TCM countries in Asia to removed rhino horn from their traditional
medicine pharmacopoeias
 Vietnam is excluded & not yet removed rhino horn from their traditional medicine
 These TCM countries include

South
China Japan Taiwan
Korea

※ Belief in the curative properties of rhino horn remains deep-seated in Chinese-related cultures.
 TROPHY HUNTING PERMITS

South African trophy-

hunting permits given to
Vietnamese nationals
There has been a rapid
increase in
hunts conducted by
Vietnamese citizens

VIETNAM

Vietnam is currently widely regarded as the main black market for rhino
horn trade

※ VIETNAMESE GOVERNMENT DENIES BEING THE MAIN MARKET FOR RHINO HORN
 REASONS WHY THEY DENY BEING THE MAIN BLACK MARKET

merely a having too poor

transit too few to support
country links with such a
for horn SA market
 2. RHINO HORN TRADE NETWORKS

※ the networks involved in the rhino horn trade in South Africa are categorised into 3 groups
※ The categorisation is functionalist
 it is based on what the networks do rather than their motivations

THE THE
THE THEFT
HARVESTING DISTRIBUTION
NETWORKS
NETWORKS NETWORKS

THE HARVESTING NETWORKS

 POACHNIG NETWORKS

GROUPS FROM ORGANISED CRIME

MOZAM SYNDICATES

Involved in poaching
Groups of poor villagers
taking the horn
from Mozam
themselves

These groups are known Involved in providing

for slipping through the incentives for villagers to
boarder fence take horn

These syndicates have

The poach rhino on foot
become the main focus
in the Kruger
of concern

HUNTING – POACHING – KILLING METHODS

※ Advanced technology is used to kill or disable the animals such as

 high-
night vision
helicopters powered
goggles
weapons

infrared tranquilising
silencers
sensors drugs

TROPHY HUNTING SCHEME IN SA

※ A person may only hunt & export 1 white rhino per year for trophy purposes
※ An example of the abuse of this scheme by a pseudo-hunting network
 THE TROPHY PERMIT SYSTEM IN SA

※ The abuse of the trophy permit system led to the SA government changing how permits are granted
※ REQUIERMENTS FOR GRANTING PERMITS

OR Applicants
Applicants must OR Applicants must provide
provide proof of must provide proof of
AND PROVIDE
hunting proof of hunting membership in
THEIR PASPORT
experience in experience of a registered
their country African species hunting
association

※ These requirements have stopped the flow of applications for hunting permits from
 Vietnam
 China
 Thailand

※ South African authorities must consider whether the countries in which foreign applicants live have
sufficient laws against illegal rhino horn trading

※ The Department of Environmental Affairs recommended that all applications for White rhino
hunting permits by hunters whose state of usual residence is Vietnam be refused.
 THE THEFT NETWORKS

※ Theft is one of many ways to obtain rhino horns

※ Thefts have been reported from stockpiles of rhino horn
 governmental
 private

※ THEFT FROM INSTITUTIONS

 thefts from institutions such as museums are increasing
 museums & other institutions have reacted by taking preventative steps such as

Replacing Removing the

Tightening
horns with horns from
security
fakes public display

※ police believe these crimes are committed by an Irish gang

 the gang is known by its nickname the Rathkeale Rovers
 this gang is known for crimes such as

DISTRIBUTING
DRUG TARMAC MONEY
ROBBERY FAKE
TRAFFICKING FRAUDE LAUNDERING
PRODUCTS
 THE DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS

BOTH ARE
LINKED TO OR
HARVESTING THEFT
PART OF
NETWORKS NETWORKS
DISTRIBUTION
NETWORKS

THE DISTRIBUTION OF RHINO

HORNS

TRANSNATIONAL
DOMESTIC RETAIL
SMUGGLING
NETWORKS
NETWORKS

Horns that are

Horns that are distributed by the local Horns that are meant
distributed by poachers contacts of poachers in for forgein markets
domestic markets
 THE PROCESS OF SMUGGLING HORNS

The middlemen
Horns are
Poachers pass it to find buyers with
distributed by
middlemen international
poachers
contacts

Th buyers or others
The horns are then
involved in the
smuggled out of
market arrange the
the country
transfer

※ Distribution networks also include trading networks in non-source countries

※ OPERATION CRASH
 A recent operation in the US
 Search warrents where executed in 5 different states
 The operation resulted in the arrest of 8 people
 a rodeo cowboy
 an expert in antiques
 a Vietnamese nail salon owner
 a Chinese businessman

 those who were arrested were believed to be involved in buying up rhino horns
 mainly in the form of trophies
 illegally moving it interstate
 exporting it without authorisation to buyers in China
 during the investigation the following items were recoverd
  37 rhino horns
 gold ingots
 cash
 other proceeds of crime
 Five of the defendants have pleaded guilty to the charges of
 rhino horn trafficking
 smuggling
 conspiracy
 money laundering

※ AUCTIONS INVOLVING RHION HORNS

 auctions of antique horn products including
 mounted horns
 Chinese libation cups
 The European Commission published a guidance note stringent restrictions on the re-
export of rhino horn products

※ Since then no re-export certificates for rhino horns have been issued