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| Location: |
World |
| Subject: |
Trade |
| Species: |
All Rhino Species |
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Since 1993, Yemen has probably imported more rhino horn than any other country. On 5 Jan 1997 the President of the Republic of yemen gave his approval to join CITES, and on 23 April 1997 Yemen's foreign minister signed the final accession document to join the Convention.
North Yemen banned international trade in rhino horn in 1982, but all through the 1980s it continued to import large quantities of rhino horn from East Africa. In 1987, the re-export of left-over rhino horn chips and shavings, mainly to China, was banned but again not enforced effectively. A prohibition on domestic trade in raw rhino horn by 1992 was never implemented properly.
Quantities have declined. From 1994 to Dec 1996, a minimum of 50 - 100 kg of rhino horn have been smuggled into Yemen annually.
Traders in Yemen claim there are many ways to smuggle rhino horn into the country. Popular routes in 1994-96 have been from Djibouti by ship or dhow to the Yemen coast, particularly to Mocha or Khukhah, and then by road to Sanaa. Cattle boats traveling from NE African ports take horns especially to Mocha area. Ships from Port Sudan to Hodeidah have been known to smuggle rhino horn recently. Diplomats in Khartoum, Somalis, Sudanese and Yemenis, have sent horns illegally in their diplomatic bags by air to Sanaa or by ship to Hodeidah. Another route is with Muslim pilgrims going to Saudi Arabia.
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