SWAZILAND’s proposal to trade in rhino horn was rejected on Monday at the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites) in Sandton. The proposal failed to get the two-thirds majority it needed to allow the regulated and controlled sale of rhino horn, with 100 countries voting against and 26 voting for. The Swazi delegation made a heartfelt speech to delegates from 183 countries to allow the trade, saying it would assist Swaziland with the escalating costs of protecting its rhinos. The Swazi delegates said funds that came from sales of rhino horn would go towards paying rangers and increasing security in the country’s protected areas. But their call fell on deaf ears as a number of states, including the US, EU and Kenya, said that if the proposals were passed they would reverse the good work that had been done to reduce demand for rhino horn. Israel said the Swazi proposal would exacerbate the situation. Kenya...
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