Rhino breeder in South Africa plans online auction of horn

Johannesburg: A rhino breeder in South Africa is planning an online auction of rhino horn, capitalizing on a court ruling that opened the way to domestic trade despite concerns about poaching.

An auction website says the online sale of rhino horn belonging to breeder John Hume will happen August 21-24 and that revenue will be used to "further fund the breeding and protection of rhinos."

Rhino breeders believe poaching would be undercut by a regulated trade in rhino horn, while critics say trade will spur poaching that has occurred at record levels.

This year, South Africa's Constitutional Court rejected a government appeal to preserve a 2009 ban on the domestic trade. An international ban has been in place since 1977.

Most of the world's rhinos live in South Africa.