Sale of white rhinos from Namibia to the USA is legal

A huge outcry in Namibia: Three days ago, a transport plane took off from Hosea Kutako International Airport. On board were 40 white rhinos, each in its own container. The destination was supposedly Texas. A wildlife trader had bought the rhinos for an interested party in the USA.

Can white rhinos be traded? Yes, emphasises the Namibian Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) in a statement published yesterday. Both according to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) as well as according to Namibian law. The sale and transport has therefore been authorised.

In contrast to the endangered black rhino, the white rhino does not belong to the state. As with most game species, private ownership of these animals is possible. Therefore, there is not even a legal means of prohibiting the trade in white rhinos and other privately owned game.

However, the ministry noted growing interest in the breeding of rhinos, particularly in the USA. There are also Namibians who import white rhinos from South Africa with the intention of selling them on to the USA. According to the MEFT, this circumvents a South African ban on the export of rhinos to the USA.

However, this does not apply to the white rhinos that left Namibian soil at the beginning of the week. DNA tests have proven, the MEFT emphasises, that they all originate from Namibia.

Concerns about species-appropriate habitat

In contrast, the Ministry of Environment agrees with the criticism from conservation experts regarding species-appropriate habitat: "It's our conviction that, the export of live white rhinoceros outside the natural range, if not well managed will be detrimental to the conservation of this species."

Furthermore, in terms of species conservation, the ministry sees no point in keeping animals outside their natural home range. Therefore, in consultation with private owners of white rhinos, a new regulation for the export of these animals outside their natural range will be drawn up.

Some critics have also called for all game species to be the exclusive property of the state. However, conservation experts disagree with this. Since private ownership of game has been legally enshrined in Namibia, populations outside the national parks have increased. Nationalising game would remove the incentive to protect game and conserve its habitats.

Namibia holidaymakers can see white rhinos in the Etosha National Park, in the Waterberg Plateau Park and in the Hardap Game Park.

Sven-Eric Stender