Rhino Horn

Dear members of the ETF.

During the last 6 – 9 months the Danish and Swedish taxidermists have been contacted by persons who want to buy African trophies especially rhino horn.

The buyers claim that they are from Ireland or Great Britain and that they have a friend or customer who has a castle, museum or hotel where they want to build up a collection of African trophies. However, it appears that their primary interest is in rhino horn.

In Sweden and Denmark the national taxidermist organisations has warned their members against these people, because their behaviour indicates, they are probably not normal businessmen.

In the ETF we are aware, that these people also operate in other European countries, and therefore we think, it is nessessary to warn all taxidermists against them. We have no proof that they are criminals, but they always make contact without really telling who they are. They never leave an address, they call from unregistered mobile telephones and so on. In Sweden they have tried to sell electric generators from the backroom of the car, beside the rhino trade. Furthermore Cites permits appear to be unimportant to these people.

According to our informations it seems that a group of people are involved. We ask all taxidermists to be very careful if dealing with these people, and not to give out any information regarding rhino horn. Maybe their telephone calls and visits are made not only to buy, but perhaps to spy so it is easy to pick some horn up later.

Of course there is nothing wrong with legal trade with rhino horn, but all this stinks of illegal activity, so it is a very good idea not get involved, if you are not 100% sure that the trade is legal.

If you have information- telephone numbers, addresses, car registration numbers, descriptions of these people, or any relevant information relating to them – please send it to your national CITES administration. If the dealers are legal, they have nothing to fear, if not we can possibly help to stop the trade.

Please spread this messeage to your members and colleauges.

On behalf of the Executive Committee.

Vagn Reitz