Trophy Hunters Can Now Shoot Double Number of Black Rhinos in South Africa

South Africa has now received permission to kill twice as many as black rhinos. Trophy-hunters can now hunt double the number of rhinos after the country won permission to sell more shooting rights. The decision was made at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites), which polices global trade, after being supported by some African nations. While the rhino population had been on the decline due to trophy hunting leading to illegal trade, their numbers are growing back. Earlier this year, Southern African country Botswana had recently lifted its ban on elephant hunting attracting a lot of criticisms. American Trophy Hunter is 'Proud' of Killing Rare Black Giraffe, Defends Her Viral Pic With Slain Animal!

The development garnered criticisms from animal rights activists. South Africa has been allowed to sell hunting rights for five black rhinos each year since 2003. However, with the proposal at the world's largest conference on the wildlife trade in Geneva, nine black rhinos could be targeted every year. With the latest development soon coming into effect, adult male rhinos would be targeted to protect breeding females. They defend their actions saying that the money raised from hunters would be used to support conservation.

Terming the decision as hugely disappointing, Audrey Delsink, of Humane Society International/Africa was quoted as saying, "After attending the SA delegations’ presentation on rhinos in our country and the severe challenges that our rhino population faces through the relentless onslaught of poaching, it is mind-boggling that they would further add to the population losses through hunting, only benefiting a handful of key individuals." US Trophy Hunter Pays Pakistan Rs 77 Lakh to Kill Rare Himalayan Goat Markhor, Says it Helps Conservation!

The decision was supported by other rhino-range states like Botswana, Zimbabwe and Eswatini as well as the EU and Canada. Between 1960 and 1995, illegal trade of rhino horn drove the wild beasts to the brink of extinction with only 2,500 being left in the wild. Today, around 5,000 black rhinos exist in the wild with almost 2,000 being in South Africa. The African country said that the move was justified by an increase in population and its impact on farmers’ livelihoods.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 21, 2019 10:31 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).