The South Africa – Viet Nam Rhino Horn Trade Nexus (PDF ... - WWF

SiTuATion AT THE SouRCE: SouTH AfRiCA
Year 2008 2009 2010 Total
Bodies 25 25
Bones 52 53 108
Feet 20 16 24 60
Skeletons 1 1
Skin pieces 18 14 32
Skins 2 2 3 7
Skulls 1 1
Tails 1 1
Table 3 Rhino body parts reported as imported to Viet Nam, 2003-10 (CITES Annual Report Data)
A remarkable range of rhino body parts have been recorded as imports to Viet Nam, including bones,
feet, skins and skin pieces as well as whole bodies and a whole skeleton (Table 3). It is believed that
rhino skin and other body parts may form part of the pharmacopeia being used for medicinal purposes
in Viet Nam. That there was no importation of rhino horn or any other body parts to Viet Nam prior to
2003 provides further evidence that the recent increase in rhino poaching is related to growing
demand in what was previously a dormant market.
Furthermore, 16 live White Rhinos were reportedly exported from South Africa to Viet Nam between
2003 and 2010, of which 14 were officially imported, according to Vietnamese data (Table 4). Export
trade data are typically generated from permits issued and not from permits which have actually been
used, thus export trade volumes are sometimes greater due to the inclusion of unused permits.
Regardless, the status of the 14 live White Rhinos imported to Viet Nam since 2003 is worthy of
on going investigation. Concerns had previously been raised by TRAFFIC about the importation of large
numbers of White Rhinos to China from South Africa for the purpose of farming them for their horns
(Milliken et al., 2009b).
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 Total
South Africa exports to Viet Nam 2 0 0 2 4 2 2 4 16
Viet Nam imports from South Africa 2 0 0 2 6 2 2 0 14
Table 4 South Africa’s reported exports of live rhinos contrasted with Viet Nam’s reported imports, 2003-10
(CITES Annual Report Data)
Figure 18 Trade chain flow from rhino poaching, illegal acquisition of stockpiled horn and legally-hunted White
Rhino in South Africa to Viet Nam
SOURCES OF RHINO HORNS FOR THE VIETNAMESE TRADE
Figure 18 depicts the trade chain and sources of rhino horn that are moving from South Africa to Viet
Nam. Since 2003, apart from the large numbers of White Rhino horns obtained as legally hunted trophies,
Vietnamese nationals have also increasingly been implicated in the acquisition of rhino horns
deriving from other sources. A second source of horns has involved privately-held stocks (recovered
from natural mortalities and legal or illegal dehornings) that had not been declared and registered with
relevant provincial authorities and have been sold in contravention of national legislation in South
Africa. Further leakage of horn onto illegal markets has also followed the theft of rhino horn stocks
from both private and public owners and institutions. Finally, poaching of both Black and White
Rhinos within South Africa and from neighbouring countries, especially Zimbabwe, has provided a
fourth and major source of horns. It is important to recognize that these four sources of rhino horn are
all strongly interlinked and have been collectively managed as the “supply” by the organized crime
syndicates behind the trade to Asian destinations.
These sources have all been actively exploited and contribute to massive illegal activity managed at
local, national, regional and international levels by organized crime syndicates. Operating at different
scales and across borders, these well-organized and Africa-based nodes of criminal activity, at their
highest levels, invariably comprised Asian operatives. The connecting web of players was made up of a
series of local middlemen, including private sector game ranchers, professional hunters, veterinarians
and other wildlife industry figures opportunistically supported by local businessmen. At the lowest
level were rhino poachers, sometimes recruited from communities surrounding protected areas, but
increasingly coming from more sophisticated backgrounds amongst South Africa’s extensive wildlife
industry sector (see section on Rhino Crime Syndicates).
60 the south africa – viet nam rhino horn trade nexus TRAFFIC 61
STATE RESERvES
POACHING
LIvING RHINOS
PRIvATE RESERvES
“PSEuDO-HuNTING”
SuPPLY
MIDDLEMEN
DEALERS
ASIAN-BASED SYNDICATE DEALERS AfRICAN-BASED SYNDICATE DEALERS
DEMAND
STATE
RESERvES
RHINO HORN STOCKS
PRIvATE
RESERvES
THEfTS/SALES
DISPLAYS