FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JOHANNESBURG: FRIDAY 29 JUNE 2018
It has come to the attention of the Private Rhino Owners Association (PROA) that a platform describing itself as Rhino Horn Trade (www.rhinohorntrade.com) has recently been launched, which platform appears to be aimed at operating in direct competition to the already existing rhino horn trade platform created by PROA known as Rhino Horn Trade Africa (RHTA). PROA deeply regrets the fact that the owners or creators of this new platform have elected to embark on this separated initiative.
In PROA’s respectful view, it serves only to fragment and confuse an already delicate and sensitive market for a legal trade in rhino horn. Credibility, government co-operation and enforcement compliance are criteria that PROA have worked very hard at and PROA’s initiative known as Rhino Horn Trade Africa (RHTA) has already accomplished all these goals. PROA can therefore not endorse or encourage this new platform and PROA categorically distances itself from the website known www.rhinohorntrade.com and from the individuals behind it, which we believe to be Mr. Dawid Naude and Mr. Martin Le Roux. PROA cannot and does not vouch for the credibility of these individuals. PROA can only speculate that this new platform was created with a view to avoid or circumvent the strict enforcement and compliance protocols established through Rhino Horn Trade Africa (RHTA).
PROA wishes to encourage and invite all rhino horn owners, potential sellers of rhino horn and potential buyers of rhino horn to use RHTA as a credible, transparent and reputable platform, working in close co-operation with the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) and the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (VGL) at the University of Pretoria at Onderstepoort and the eRHODIS DNA system that they have created, to promote and facilitate a well-regulated legal trade in rhino horn.
The RHTA platform may be accessed at www.rhta.co.za.
For more information, e-mail Pelham Jones: pelham@vibe.co.za
Issued on behalf of PROA
