Letter: Wildlife conservation in Africa: on the horns of a dilemma
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: I agree with Paul Bradshaw's views (Letters, 14 April) on the controlled sale of ivory, and believe that a similar argument can be applied to the rhino, whose extinction looms ever closer.
Last year I spent three months in Namibia on a Raleigh International expedition. Since Namibia's independence three years ago, the conservation budget has been slashed, as the government concentrates funds on the welfare of its people. Funds are desperately needed to maintain the vital work carried out in the country to protect rhino and elephants. Rhino horn - removed by game wardens from the animals without causing harm, in an attempt to save the rhino from poachers - stockpiles in warehouses, banned from being sold. Could not this horn be put to better use if it was sold and the income used to protect the animal it has come from?
Perhaps a hallmarking system could be initiated, whereby ivory or horn obtained legally from culled or 'cropped' animals is marked so that a buyer knows he is legally obtaining the goods, and in doing so is helping the survival of that species.
Yours faithfully,
EMMA JONES
London, W2
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments