Researching rhino horn laundering in South Africa

Written by Eliode Bakole

Rhino horn is precious; it is currently more highly valued than Gold and is even ranked among the most sought-after commodities in illegal wildlife trade. These horns originate from what many call a beautiful, innocent, wonderful and amazing creature: the rhinoceros, or rhinos in short.

In South Africa, both white and black rhinos are iconic big mammals, as the country remains a biodiversity hotspot. It has the third-highest level of biological diversity in the world, with the world’s vascular plants, mammal species, bird species, marine fish species, and even insects. Rhinos play a vital role in nature. From an ecological perspective, their presence signifies a healthy, sustainable ecosystem. They are an umbrella species, or a mega-herbivore, because their presence fosters an environment that enables other species, both fauna and flora, to flourish.

Losing both black rhinos, which are regarded as browsers, and white rhinos, considered grazers, will directly impact many other species that depend on them for survival. They are considered an essential part of the planet’s heritage and are synonymous with the South African bush and its landscape. They are keystone species due to their significant role in supporting the existence of other macro- and microorganisms, and they are megaherbivores that help shape the entire ecosystem.

Despite the important value of rhino's for South Africa, they are still exposed to human threats. The human threats are driven by monetary benefits and societal status. This put the survival of both white and black rhinos in peril. In 2024 alone, approximately 400 rhinos were killed, and 500 in 2023. 

Researching rhino horn ‘laundering’ opens the door on several other – directly or indirectly linked – criminal activities.

The decline in rhinos is linked to multiple tactics employed by sophisticated criminal networks to launder and smuggle rhino horns, resulting in illegal trade and habitat loss.  This has drawn domestic and international attention. Legal procedures, such as domestic trade in rhino horn, and international legal instruments on wildlife trade, export, and import, such as CITES, have been considered key elements in protecting the iconic species (rhinos). In addition, several other mechanisms include prevention strategies to disrupt and prevent rhino killing, as well as illicit sale and supply chains at all levels.

Therefore, researching rhino horn laundering in South Africa has exposed the researcher to diverse perspectives, views and insights from a diverse group of respondents with varied backgrounds. First, the term ‘laundering’ from the rhino horn perspective opens the door to several other criminal opportunities or activities that are directly or indirectly linked to the movement of rhino horns in South Africa. These criminal opportunities include money laundering, racketeering, smuggling, corruption, infiltration, cooptation, cooperation, arms trafficking, hijacking, theft of the rhino stockpiles, etc.

Second, this study has immersed the researcher in the world of legal hunting (trophy hunting), rhino dehorning, antique rhino horns, rhino breeding, domestic trade, and the legalisation of rhino horn trade in South Africa. As ways of protecting rhinos, these methods — including trophy hunting, dehorning, stockpiling horns, and legal trade — remain contentious. They can both support rhino conservation efforts and serve as sources of revenue for public and private rhino owners, and even pave the way for the laundering of rhino horns. 

If you lose your rhinos, you're going to lose a huge amount of income from tourism. That money is being used for the conservation of other species.

It is important to highlight that wildlife is a significant part of South Africa’s diversified tourism product and that ecotourism is a major source of income. From a socio-economic perspective, this has a significant effect on the country's ability to generate tourism revenue, which plays a substantial role in the country's GDP. 

Many aspects still remain questionable. These concern the management and future of rhinos and rhino horn stockpiles; the domestic trade in rhino horns; dehorning management; the rhino horn supply and the huge demand; the legalisation of the trade; potential buyers; and cultural values and barriers.