Rhino horn - time to legalise the trade say researchers (BBC)

By Matt McGrath
Environment correspondent, BBC News

A group of environmental researchers says that legalising the trade in rhinoceros horn is necessary to save the animals.

Writing in Science journal, they argue that a global ban has failed to stem an "insatiable international demand".

The authors say the market could be met by humanely shaving the horns of live rhinos.

At present in South Africa, poachers are on average killing around two rhinos every day.

According to the lead author of the research Dr Duan Biggs from the University of Queensland, poaching is now out of control.
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more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21615280




I've long advocated that all siezed rhino horn -- and horns collected from dead animals -- should be sold on the market at a fraction of the going price, with official stamps and documents, possibly including an electronically encrypted certificate of authenticity verifying that it is not imitation rhino horn. This would drive down the price of all rhino horn products, especially those without certification, to the point that poaching eventually would be reduced to unprofitability.