 Reference Base  Rhinoceros in South and South West Africa. Proceedings o... |
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Mundy, P.J., 1984. Rhinoceros in South and South West Africa. Proceedings of a Workshop held at Pilanesberg Game Reserve, Bophuthatswana, 15 and 16 February 1984. Johannesburg, Endangered Wildlife Trust, pp. 1-25
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| Location: |
World |
| Subject: |
Trade |
| Species: |
All Rhino Species |
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In the years 1972 - 78 eight tonnes p.a. of rhino horn entered the world market. 40% of which went to North Yemen. Most of the horn was African. The rhino horn in North Yemen is used to make dagger handles and produces 60% wastage in the process. The wastage, as shavings, is exported to Eastern Asia for $ 300 per kilo. The Southeast Asian trade amounted to 60%, in Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, Singapore etc. In 1979 - 80, 4 ? tonnes p.a.
Since 1981 - 82, a further decline to 2 tonnes p.a. The price for horn peaked in 1978/9, and thereafter remained stable. With less horn on the market the demand had therefore declined. Why?
(i) Hong Kong stopped imports from February 1979, and Japan stopped imports from November 1980.
(ii) Substitutes are now used. Rhino products have been used for more than 2000 years, and even then the saiga antelope horn was mentioned in medicine books, and also as a substitute for rhino horn- mainly to reduce fevers. Today, there are more than one million saiga antelopes.
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