Rhinoceros ownership and attitudes towards legalization of global horn trade within South Africa's private wildlife sector

South Africa’s private sector is vital to rhino conservation yet there is a lack of research into the attitudes of current and potential rhino owners towards rhino conservation and horn trade. We surveyed members of the South African private wildlife ranching industry to examine these matters...

Our findings indicate that all respondents recognize the risks of rhino ownership and tend to distrust national and provincial environmental departments. In addition to these concerns, rhino owners
have substantial monthly security and management expenditures. We found positive attitudes overall towards global rhino horn trade.