South African rhino horn ruling threatens global trade ban

A recent ruling by the High Court in South Africa has triggered alarm with Born Free and among conservationists worldwide, after judges upheld a decision that could allow a privately held rhino horn stockpile to be exported under a controversial interpretation of CITES regulations 

The ruling could have far reaching implications for the international rhino horn trade, and potentially devastating impacts on the future of rhinos.  

Rhinos have long been targeted for their horn which, despite being made largely of keratin (like our fingernails and toenails), is highly sought after in East Asia for use in traditional medicines and tonics. International trade in rhino horn was effectively banned under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in 1977.  

However, a combination of poorly regulated domestic markets, astronomical prices, corruption and the involvement of well organised trafficking networks led to a poaching crisis. As a result, almost 11,000 rhinos were brutally killed by poachers in South Africa alone between 2008 and 2025, with other range States also being affected.  

Born Free has opposed legal trade in rhino horn for decades and has worked alongside many governments and organisations to end all trade in rhino horn and reduce demand. Recently, those efforts seem to have been reaping rewards, with poaching levels slowly declining in some areas. However, the recent High Court judgement in South Africa could lead to a resumption of international trade, with huge risks for rhino conservation, enforcement, and demand reduction efforts. 

What was the South African court ruling? 

On 3rd July, the High Court in Kimberley, in the Northern Cape province, upheld an earlier judgement from 31st October that could allow a privately held rhino horn stockpile to be exported under a controversial interpretation of the CITES treaty which permits the export of captive bred specimens (live animals and body parts) without the usual CITES import permits, provided that the exporting country certifies that the animals were indeed captive‑bred and that trade is for non‑commercial purposes. 

The case was brought by Wicus Diedericks, owner of Rockwood Private Game Reserve in the Northern Cape in South Africa, which reportedly operates a 22,000+ acre hunting area offering rifle and bow hunting, including selective rhino hunts. The reserve markets itself as a ‘conservation-through-hunting’ operation. Mr Diedericks reportedly owns around 430 rhinos, which he regularly dehorns as an anti-poaching measure. He argued that selling his horn stockpile was essential to keep the conservancy afloat financially. Government agencies challenged the initial ruling, but the High Court dismissed their appeal, awarded costs to Diedericks, and instructed the provincial authority to decide within seven days whether to issue the certificates enabling the horns to be exported. 

Supporters of the rhino horn trade have celebrated the judgement as a breakthrough, and some are urging the government not to pursue any further appeal. Diedericks successfully asked the court to lift the usual suspension of decisions pending appeal, meaning authorities must now consider applications immediately – a move he justified by claiming that without horn sales, his rhinos may ultimately fall into State ownership and face heightened poaching risk. 

What does this mean for wild rhinos? 

Responding to the news, Born Free’s Head of Policy, Dr Mark Jones, said: “We strongly dispute the notion that legal international trade in rhino horn would protect rhinos. For more than 30 years, we have argued that any legal market – however restricted – risks legitimising rhino horn in the eyes of consumers, stimulating demand, undermining enforcement, and providing cover for laundering illegally-sourced horn.  

“Past experiments with legal trade in ivory and other high-value wildlife products have repeatedly shown that opening markets for high value products from threatened species fuels poaching and trafficking rather than curbing it. This ruling would undo years of effort to reduce demand for rhino horn. It must be overturned before the floodgates are opened.” 

The implications of the ruling extend far beyond rhinos. By allowing wildlife products from captive-bred animals of threatened and protected species to be exported without the usual CITES permitting requirements, the judgement could set a precedent enabling South Africa to export products from other captive-bred CITES‑listed species, including big cats, that are currently subject to essential regulations and restrictions. This raises profound concerns about the future effectiveness of international wildlife trade controls. 

Dr Jones continued: “Our core concern remains clear: legal international trade in rhino horn poses unacceptable risks to rhinos in the wild, not just in South Africa but across their entire African and Asian range. We will continue to advocate for the global ban on rhino horn trade to be upheld and strengthened.” 

The South African government authorities have lodged a further appeal against the High Court ruling with the Supreme Court. 

For more information about the rhino horn trade, see bornfree.org.uk/rhino-horn-trade/.