South Africa's Kruger National Park has announced that it is holding an auction for 500 of its white rhinoceros. Park officials say they are accepting bids for the rhinos for the sake of their safety, to protect them from poachers.
Kruger National Park's eastern border is next to Mozambique, one of the poorest's countries in the world. Poaching rhinos has been a way to provide its residents with quick money.
Selling the endangered white rhinos to collectors is not a solution. Buyers have used the rhinos to bring tourists to lodges for game viewing and for legal trophy hunts; they have also traded them in an open market. In some cases, ranchers have procured rhinos in the hopes that the trade in their highly sought-after horns will be, at some time, legalized.
Due to the many risks of owning rhinos (including keep them safe), there may well be very few buyers for Kruger National Park's rhinos. Private rhino owners have to spend around $24 million annually on security for their investment.
Kruger National Park's sale carries too many risks for the 500 rhinos. Tell Kruger National Park to stop the sale and step up measures to save the rhinos in the park!
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