FRIDAY, 4.00PM
THE Harare summit of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species on Thursday again rejected South Africa’s proposal to reopen trade in rhino horn, in the second vote on the motion. The decision came as something of a shock after the optimism brought on by Cites’s approval of a compromise proposal on reopening the ivory trade.
The secret vote produced 54 for and 48 against, with 10 abstentions, some way off the required two-thirds majority and an even heavier defeat than Tuesday’s vote, which was a single vote short of the required majority. The European Union states, whose abstention ensured the passage of the ivory compromise, appear to have been subsequently pulled into line and voted en bloc against the rhino horn motion.
Natal Parks Board CEO George Hughes, who spearheaded the proposal, said: “Naturally we were very disappointed. We now realise it was a tactical mistake to call for another vote. But we’ll be back”