A HUNTING operator has asked a court for permits to hunt an endangered and partially tame Black Rhino, but the government has vowed to protect the threatened animal. “We are committed to compliance with CITES and that does not allow the commercial utilisation of Black Rhinos,” said Trish Hanekom, head of the Conservation and Environment Department in central Gauteng. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) has listed black rhinoceroses as endangered species threatened with extinction. Only around 2400 of the animals remained in Africa in 1994, down from 65000 in 1970; a 1000 are in South Africa. Leonardia Safaris has asked the Johannesburg High Court to overturn the department’s rejection this month of their applications for permits to allow a French visitor to hunt the animal. The company claims a former employee of the department had provided written assurances that the permits would be issued. Hunters pay up to R400000 to hunt a rhino.