Summary
Namibia tried to lift the ban on trading rhino horns at an international meeting but was unsuccessful. The proposals were not approved because they did not get enough votes. Namibia and some other countries collect rhino horns in case they can sell them in the future.
Key Facts
- Namibia wanted to allow the sale of black and white rhino horns internationally, but the proposal was rejected.
- The meeting took place at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) in Uzbekistan.
- Namibia's proposal to lift the ivory ban on African savanna elephants was also defeated.
- Namibia pioneered removing rhino horns to make them less attractive to poachers.
- Rhino horns are valued in some Asian countries for medicine and status.
- Black rhinos are listed as critically endangered, with only 6,421 alive as of 2023.
- Southern white rhinos are listed as near threatened, with a population of 15,752.
- Namibia and other countries have large stockpiles of rhino horns from their dehorning programs.
