South African entrepreneur, John Hume, is seeking a new caretaker for his Platinum Rhino Project, a conservation ranch that houses approximately 1,993 rare white rhinos. The 8,500-hectare (21,000 acres) property, located 100 miles southeast of Johannesburg, is up for auction on May 1, with bids starting at $10 million (£8 million).
Hume, an 81-year-old multimillionaire who initiated the rhino breeding project three decades ago with around 200 animals, is selling the entire ranch due to financial constraints. Having invested $150 million in the initiative, he hopes to find a buyer willing to continue the conservation efforts for these threatened species.
The auction package includes not only the white rhinos, constituting approximately 10% of the global white rhino population, but also 213 buffaloes, five hippos, seven zebras, and 11 giraffes. The farm, which employs about 100 individuals, plays a crucial role in protecting the animals from poachers through various security measures, including air patrols with a dedicated helicopter.
Hume’s decision to sell the Platinum Rhino Project comes after exhausting personal funds and facing challenges in overturning a global ban on selling rhino horn to finance the farm. Rhino horn, a coveted material in traditional Chinese medicine, is considered highly valuable in illicit markets.
The farm, authorized to trim rhino horns, contends that this practice safeguards the rhinos by making them less susceptible to poaching. The trimmed horns are carefully managed, DNA-profiled, microchipped, and stored securely, with no intention of selling them.
Expressing his attachment to rhinos, Hume revealed that he fell in love with the animals after retiring to a small ranch with a group of rhinos. His ideal buyer, he says, would be an individual or foundation passionate about rhino conservation and capable of sustaining the breeding project.
While Hume’s family has engaged with high-net-worth individuals, ecological foundations, and zoos expressing interest in purchasing the farm for conservation purposes, no bids had been placed as of Friday. Despite the absence of bids, several individuals have registered for the auction, indicating potential interest.
The Platinum Rhino Project has the capacity to make a significant impact on bolstering declining rhino populations in Africa, with approximately 200 rhinos born each year. The family had explored various funding options, including releasing rhinos into the wild and creating a nature market from rewilding rhinos, but faced challenges in securing financial support.
The southern white rhinos, classified as “near threatened” by the WWF, have made a remarkable recovery from near extinction in the late 19th century. Today, with around 18,000 individuals existing in protected areas and private game reserves across South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Kenya, they are the only one of the five rhino species not classified as endangered.
A spokesperson for the WWF emphasized the importance of understanding the conservation contribution of the Platinum Rhino Project, highlighting the challenge of finding safe and suitable rhino habitat in rhino conservation efforts.
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