CMY3702
Assignment 01 – Semester 2 (2025)
Crime Typologies
Title: Illegal Trade in Endangered Species in South Africa: A Case Study on Rhinos
1.0 Introduction
The illegal trade in endangered species is one of the most pervasive threats to global
biodiversity. It is not merely a conservation problem but a complex, transnational crime
involving organised criminal networks, corruption, trade imbalances, and socio-
economic marginalisation. Globally, this illicit market is worth billions of dollars
annually—comparable in scale and sophistication to narcotics and arms trafficking
(UNODC, 2020).
South Africa occupies a central position in this crisis, hosting exceptional biodiversity
and approximately 80% of the world’s remaining rhinoceroses. Despite progressive
conservation laws, poaching levels remain critically high. In 2014 alone, over 1,000
rhinos were killed, primarily to meet illegal demand for horn in Asian markets (Save the
Rhino, 2020).
The rhino crisis illustrates the intersection of economic deprivation, cultural demand,
and institutional weakness. Rhino horn is highly valued in consumer countries for
unproven medicinal purposes and as a status symbol, linking distant cultural beliefs with
local economic desperation.
This essay examines the factors driving the illegal trade in endangered species, using
rhinos as a case study. It evaluates economic, social, and political contributors,
analyses current responses, and argues for integrated, preventative strategies
addressing root causes such as poverty, misinformation, and governance gaps.
1.1 Definition of Key Concepts
Assignment 01 – Semester 2 (2025)
Crime Typologies
Title: Illegal Trade in Endangered Species in South Africa: A Case Study on Rhinos
1.0 Introduction
The illegal trade in endangered species is one of the most pervasive threats to global
biodiversity. It is not merely a conservation problem but a complex, transnational crime
involving organised criminal networks, corruption, trade imbalances, and socio-
economic marginalisation. Globally, this illicit market is worth billions of dollars
annually—comparable in scale and sophistication to narcotics and arms trafficking
(UNODC, 2020).
South Africa occupies a central position in this crisis, hosting exceptional biodiversity
and approximately 80% of the world’s remaining rhinoceroses. Despite progressive
conservation laws, poaching levels remain critically high. In 2014 alone, over 1,000
rhinos were killed, primarily to meet illegal demand for horn in Asian markets (Save the
Rhino, 2020).
The rhino crisis illustrates the intersection of economic deprivation, cultural demand,
and institutional weakness. Rhino horn is highly valued in consumer countries for
unproven medicinal purposes and as a status symbol, linking distant cultural beliefs with
local economic desperation.
This essay examines the factors driving the illegal trade in endangered species, using
rhinos as a case study. It evaluates economic, social, and political contributors,
analyses current responses, and argues for integrated, preventative strategies
addressing root causes such as poverty, misinformation, and governance gaps.
1.1 Definition of Key Concepts
