Agenda item 54: Rhinoceros

/ ©: WWF-Canon / Michel Gunther
Black rhinoceros in Kenya's Nairobi National Park. Rhino horns are highly valuable in the international wildlife trade.
© WWF-Canon / Michel Gunther
The Secretariat’s Document 54 Rhinoceros recommends several draft decisions to be adopted by the CoP to address threats posed by continued illegal trade in rhinoceros horn and poaching threat to particular populations. The Secretariat also recommends adoption of amendments to Resolution Conf. 9.14 (Rev CoP13).

WWF position SUPPORT
For WWF's full position, including the rationale and further information, please see page 44 in WWF Positions CITES COP14. Download PDF (3.6 MB | 48 pages)

Why is WWF supporting this agenda item?

  • The status of several rhino populations is still of great conservation concern and much remains to be addressed by the Parties
  • Of particular concern is the increased poaching of rhinoceros in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, and Nepal
  • There is a need for increased and improved cross-border collaboration between Zimbabwe and South Africa
  • Also of similar concern is the need for improved stockpile inventory and management, as evidenced by some unexplained reductions in reported stockpiles.
Thus, WWF supports the recommendations contained within Document 54 and urges the CoP to adopt all of the draft Decisions and proposed amendments to Res. Conf 9.14 (Rev CoP13) in order to address:
  • stockpile management issues in range States
  • undertaking a review on the accumulation of rhino horn and the routes by which they enter the trade chain and flow to illegal markets
  • lack of cross-border collaboration to combat illegal horn trade
  • poaching in particular range States
  • improved facilitation in sharing of intelligence information
  • potential to improve links with the MIKE Programme.

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