It has come to light that British conservation charity Save the Rhino directly profits from the commercial hunting of endangered rhino and other species.

Save the Rhino Policy

The charity that works to protect one of the world most endangered animals decided to endorse the controversial practice of “trophy hunting” after being approached by hunting lobby group Safari Club International (SCI) with the offer of money in 2006.

To date SCI has donated around £32,000 to the charity, much of which was raised from selling trophy hunted animals at auction.

Save the Rhino has defended its controversial policy saying they are taking a realistic approach to conservation and wish to encourage the “sustainable use” of animals and avoid being “sentiment driven”.

“We don’t want to see animals being killed but it’s the situation we are in,” said Lucy Boddam-Whetham, the charity’s fundraising manager, who admitted the issue was “extremely emotive”. “It’s looking at all the different ways we can make sure we get money for conservation coming in.”

Boddam-Whetham said that the charity made its decision to form a partnership with SCI after the hunting group started offering donations of money in 2006, since then Save the Rhino has been receiving sums of between £6000 and £10,000 a year.

“Our position came out of whether we would accept funds from SCI,” Boddam-Whetham said. “Having discussed the pros and cons we felt overwhelmingly in favour of the SCI partnership. The realities of 21st-century conservation means compromises and difficult decisions need to be made.”

Manager of SCI, Matthew Eckhert, said he was happy that his organisation had finally found a reciepient for its money, after being turned down by a number of other conservation charities previously.

“We are struggling with gaining credibility. It’s difficult with being a hunting organisation who hunts endangered or threatened species when the public doesn’t know that hunting these species can actually benefit them.”

Rhino hunting policy

There are five remaining species of rhino is the world, only two of which – the African black and white rhinos – can be legally hunted.  Black rhino are critically endangered in the wild, numbering only about 4,200 in Africa. White rhino once hovered on the brink of extinction, today there are about 17,800 left and the species is listed as “near threatened”.

In Namibia and South Africa hunters are able to pay to shoot up to 10 black rhino per year, costing up £170,000 each. In South Africa white rhino can be hunted on private reserves for about £12,000 each.

The greatest threat for both species comes from illegal poaching for their horns, highly valued in for medicinal use in China and as ornaments. The other risk to the species comes from the destruction of their natural habitat.

Trophy hunting supporting conservation?

Supporters of trophy hunting argue that proceeds gleaned from shooting rhino can be invested into improving anti-poaching measures and protecting their environment. In Namibia, where the state owns all black rhinos, it is also said that money from the hunts is distributed amongst the local population.

“The [African] governments have retention schemes and they track the money. They distribute and allocate it to how they see fit into rhino conservation and sustainable development. Most of, if not all, the money is returned to rhino conservation.” Said Eckert.

The rhinos selected to be hunted by SCI are all past their reproductive prime said Eckhurt, by removing these males from the population he argues that the females are encouraged to mate with younger, more virile specimens.

Opposition to Save the Rhino’s decision

Unsurprisingly many wildlife campaigners disagree with Save the Rhino’s policy. Will Travers, chief executive of Born Free, strongly opposes the practice of hunting animals for commercial reasons said “I find the whole concept deeply depressing.”

He added: “There seems something deeply unethical about championing rhino conservation and then using the money from rhino killed for ‘fun’ to protect some of those that remain.”

There are also fears of what occurs when rhino hunting is not strictly regulated. In South Africa there are concerns that some of the hunts that take place may be involved with illegal trade in rhino horn.

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