PRETORIA, The Department of Environmental Affairs says it has not yet approved the permit for next week’s online rhino horn auction in South Africa.

The auction is being held by private rhino owner John Hume, who breeds rhinos AT a game farm in North West Province.

While the government has lifted the ban on the domestic trade of rhino horn, the horns may not be traded internationally.

The Rhino Auction website says the auction is being held “in the hopes of preventing rhinos being poached for their horns” and “to raise money to further fund the breeding and protection of rhinos”.

However, concerns are being raised around whether a legal trade in horns will in turn promote the illegal trade, by creating an avenue for its purchase.

The Department of Environmental Affairs says the application for a permit to conduct the online auction, at this stage, remained at the adjudication stage.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK