LEADING and controversial South African conservationist, John Hume, has been charged with smuggling more than 960 rhino horns, worth an estimated $14 million, or, roughly €12 million. Hume, who is the former owner of what is considered to be the world’s largest rhino farm, began breeding rhinos over two decades ago.
Hume, aged 83, along with five others including a game reserve manager and a lawyer, have made appearances in court on a total of 55 charges, including money laundering, theft, and fraud. Prosecutors allege that the group was part of a rhino horn trafficking network between the years of 2017 and 2024, specifically to southeast Asia, particularly China and Vietnam, where they are used in traditional medicine. In South Africa, it is legal to trade the horns within the country, but illegal to export them.
On the black market, a rhino horn could fetch a hefty price. Per kilogram, the horns are reported to be worth more than $60,000, or roughly €51,500. This makes them more valuable than gold and in many cases, jewels, including diamonds.
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This investigation has been ongoing for seven years. The rhino farm formerly owned by Hume, called Platinum Rhino, bred about 2,000 white rhinos, roughly an eighth of the world’s population of the animals. Hume sold the farm in 2023 to African Parks NGO, citing that he could no longer care for the animals. Additionally, Hume drummed up controversy in 2017 by organising an online auction of rhino horns that he had sawed off the animals in order to prevent their killing by poachers.
The white rhino, endangered by poachers
The white rhino is currently classified as near threatened, primarily due to poachers over-hunting them for their horns. In the first three months of 2025, 103 rhinos were killed – more than one per day – despite a 15 per cent decrease in rhino deaths due to poaching from 2023 to 2024. according to figures reported by the government of South Africa. As it stands, South Africa is home to roughly 80 per cent of the total population of white rhinos in the world.
Despite the looming charges, Hume has denied all allegations and said he had nothing to hide. Hume maintained that he had never acted unlawfully and is cooperating fully with officials.
