South Africa's first online rhino horn auction set to open

Johannesburg : Several hundred rhino horns will go under the hammer on Wednesday in South Africa's first online auction of the controversial product, despite opposition from conservation groups who contend the sale will encourage poachers.

The three-day selloff, organised by the owner of the world's largest rhino farm, will go ahead after a last-minute legal tussle pushed its start back two days. 

"There are delays, no hiccups. It starts tomorrow (Wednesday) at two o'clock (1200 GMT)," said auction organiser John Hume, who owns 1,500 rhinos on his farm north of Johannesburg.

Hume has stockpiled six tonnes of rhino horns and wants to sell 264 pieces weighing a total of 500 kilogrammes (1,100 pounds).

He says he harvests the horns by tranquilising the animals and dehorning them -- a technique he says is humane and wards off poachers. 

Activists opposed to the sale fear it will fuel trafficking and undermine a 40-year global ban on the rhino trade.

Animal protection charity Humane Society has opened an online petition urging the government not to issue permits to potential horn buyers.

"Any domestic trade in rhino horn undermines enforcement and demand reduction efforts to battle wildlife trafficking in the rest of Africa, China (and) Vietnam," the charity said.

The divisive sale comes after South Africa's top court lifted an eight-year moratorium on the domestic trade of rhino horns in April.

A last-minute legal challenge delayed the auction for two days, but Hume was given a permit on Monday and bidding is set to begin. 

Environment Minister Edna Molewa said the government was taking steps "to ensure that we have closed any possible loopholes that could pave the way for a circumvention of (international) regulations".