Posted: 6/23/2015 Updated: 8/28/2017, 6/25/2015
Update Of 8/28/2017
Recently read following German language article: Südafrika streitet über den Schutz von Nashörnern Ein Nashorn-Züchter in Südafrika will den Verkauf der Hörner legalisieren. Tierschützer befürchten, dass er dann salonfähig würde – und sich die Mär von der Wunderwirkung noch festigt.
I did not know there are rhinoceros farmers in South Africa. This article is about John Hume, reportedly the world’s largest such farmer with 1,500 rhinos. He and other rhino farmers cut off the ivory anyway to protect their animals from poachers. Why should they not be allowed to sell it off? The ivory is said to grow back quickly at about 100 mm (or 1/10 of a meter) per year. Hume says he spends $170,000 per year to protect his rhinos.
The rhino farmers of South Africa recently won a South African Supreme Court decision to lift the prohibition of ivory sales.
Trigger
Just saw U.S. to Crush a Ton of Poached Ivory in Times Square DNA forensics trace the origins of illegal ivory, helping to focus law enforcement efforts. This will be the second time that a large quantity of poached ivory will be destroyed on Times Square. This time it will be carried out by the U.S Fish And Wildlife Service.
What A Stupid Idea To Destroy Poached Ivory!
This measure is pure political symbolism & tokenism! Our politicians get a chance to beat their chests!
Instead of destroying the seized ivory, this ivory should be sold to save animals! The sale would satisfy some of the demand and it would lower the sales price of ivory making it less lucrative for poachers to accept the risks.
Legalize The Farming Of Ivory
I freely admit that I am not an expert on this matter or know whether this is possible at all to farm ivory. It is definitely worth a try!
If farming of ivory is possible it would certainly have a significant number of benefits not least to protect remaining elephants etc. living in the wild.
However, as long as we still face significant global demand for ivory it is insane and an exercise in futility to pursue prohibition and punishment.
Synthesize Ivory
Why are humans still not capable to synthesize ivory as substitute for natural ivory? What is thwarting progress here?
Education & Persuasion Without Harassment
I would also believe that a comprehensive and sustained campaign to educate and persuade buyers of ivory to give up on it.
This should be done in a reasonable way with respect towards the buyer not by militant or zealous animal rights activists!
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