Conservationist Accused Of Smuggling Rhino Horns Worth €12 Million

LEADING and arguable South African conservationist, John Hume, has been charged pinch smuggling much than 960 rhino horns, worthy an estimated $14 million, or, astir €12 million. Hume, who is nan erstwhile proprietor of what is considered to beryllium nan world’s largest rhino farm, began breeding rhinos complete 2 decades ago.

Hume, aged 83, on pinch 5 others including a crippled reserve head and a lawyer, person made appearances successful tribunal connected a full of 55 charges, including money laundering, theft, and fraud. Prosecutors allege that nan group was portion of a rhino horn trafficking web betwixt nan years of 2017 and 2024, specifically to southeast Asia, peculiarly China and Vietnam, wherever they are utilized successful accepted medicine. In South Africa, it is ineligible to waste and acquisition nan horns wrong nan country, but forbidden to export them.

On nan achromatic market, a rhino horn could fetch a hefty price. Per kilogram, nan horns are reported to beryllium worthy much than $60,000, aliases astir €51,500. This makes them much valuable than golden and successful galore cases, jewels, including diamonds.

This investigation has been ongoing for 7 years. The rhino workplace formerly owned by Hume, called Platinum Rhino, bred astir 2,000 achromatic rhinos, astir an eighth of nan world’s organization of nan animals. Hume sold nan workplace successful 2023 to African Parks NGO, citing that he could nary longer attraction for nan animals. Additionally, Hume drummed up contention successful 2017 by organising an online auction of rhino horns that he had sawed disconnected nan animals successful bid to forestall their sidesplitting by poachers. 

The achromatic rhino, endangered by poachers

The achromatic rhino is presently classified arsenic adjacent threatened, chiefly owed to poachers over-hunting them for their horns. In nan first 3 months of 2025, 103 rhinos were killed – much than 1 per time – contempt a 15 per cent alteration successful rhino deaths owed to poaching from 2023 to 2024. according to figures reported by nan authorities of South Africa. As it stands, South Africa is location to astir 80 per cent of nan full organization of achromatic rhinos successful nan world.

Despite nan looming charges, Hume has denied each allegations and said he had thing to hide. Hume maintained that he had ne'er acted unlawfully and is cooperating afloat pinch officials.