header: Great Indian Rhinoceros
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line Rhinoceros unicornis Linnaeus, 1758


LEGAL STATUS

The Great Indian Rhinoceros was listed on Appendix 1 of CITES in 1977, prohibiting international trade in this species. Laws controlling trade in rhino horn have been tightened since 1992 and in October 1993 Korea, one of the major importers of rhino horn, joined CITES. However, Yemen, another significant importer still remains a non party.14 All countries protect rhinos under national legislation, however, levels of enforcement vary and poaching remains widespread.10 In 1987 CITES passed a resolution calling upon its members to prohibit all sales, destroy all stocks and take immediate action against dealers and poachers of rhino horn using economic, political and diplomatic means. On 11 April 1994 the USA placed limited trade sanctions on Taiwan and threatened similar action against China because of their failure to stop illegal trade in rhino horn and tiger bone. This represented the first use of the Pelly Amendment (1978) of the US Fisheries Act. This authorizes the use of trade sanctions if countries are identified by the US Secretary of the Interior as diminishing the effectiveness of any international programme for endangered or threatened species. Taiwan's response was rapid; within 10 days they announced a US $38m programme to strengthen protection of endangered species and clamp down on illegal trade in wildlife.5


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