MEDIA RELEASE BY SA HUNTERS AND GAME CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION

Date: 22 February 2013

SA Hunters question WWF's stance on rhino horn trade

Pretoria, South Africa - SA Hunters and Game Conservation Association (SAHGCA) strongly refutes the preposterous statement by Colman O’Criodian of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) that legalising rhino horn trade would increase poaching. It was reported in the media earlier today, that both WWF and Traffic would oppose any pro trade proposals at the CITES meeting in Bangkok from 3 – 13 March.

O’Criodian, who claimed he had visited South Africa a while ago, said the calls from South African game farmers and rhino owners to legalise the trade were ‘ridicilous’, and that there were many ‘ethical issues’. He did not elaborate on these so-called ‘ethical issues’. "How ethical is it to allow the extinction of a species through irresponsible actions?",  SAHGCA asks.

SA Hunters and Game Conservation Association thinks O’Criodian is ill-informed and short-sighted. As an environmental scientist, surely he should know that the CITES inspired trade bans have failed spectacularly in stopping the demise of 800 000 elephants, 64 000 black rhinos and 355 000 lions in sub-Sahara Africa since the implementation of its imperialistic, new colonialist watch over Africa’s treasured wildlife 35 years ago.

WWF’s stance is a slap in the faces of highly successful and respected conservationists such as Dr Ian Player who had the foresight to realise the vulnerability of the rhino many years ago. He is one of many highly esteemed experts in South Africa who supports legalising the trade in rhino horn. Just who is O’Criodian to refer to these stalwarts of conservation, as being ridiculous?

Trade bans do not work. They are merely naive reactions to try and stop criminal activities. Give legal trade a chance. We know it is not the only solution, but is a start. South Africa is a crucial and the most important stakeholder in the rhino debate. Armchair conservationists from countries where there are nothing left to conserve, should back out of the rhino debate. They have no right to try and dictate to those that actually know how to look after their wildlife, such as South Africa.

SAHGCA would like to know what notable conservation successes WWF and its members have achieved besides publicity stunts? Has WWF spent its donor money from concerned citizens wisely on real conservation projects, or is it perhaps just a source of income for officials?

The end

Issued by the SA Hunters and Game Conservation Association (SAHGCA), the biggest conservation association in South African with over 33 000 members.