John Hume, a leading figure in South Africa's rhino conservation efforts, has been charged with smuggling rhino horns but firmly insists on his innocence while calling for transparency in the investigation.
South African Conservationist Denies Smuggling Charges
South African Conservationist Denies Smuggling Charges
John Hume, prominent rhino conservationist, rebuts smuggling allegations regarding $14 million worth of rhino horns.
A prominent conservationist in South Africa, John Hume, has responded defiantly to allegations of smuggling rhino horns valued at $14 million (£10 million). Hume, who previously owned what is believed to be the largest rhino farm in the world, asserted that he has "nothing to hide" amid charges that he trafficked the horns from South Africa to markets in Southeast Asia.
The 83-year-old Hume, along with five co-defendants, faces 55 charges, which include theft, money laundering, and fraud. Prosecutors allege that the group was involved in an international rhino horn trafficking operation from 2017 to 2024. They are accused of smuggling over 960 horns by securing permits for local sales with the intent to export them illegally to Asia, where rhino horns are sought after for traditional medicinal use.
In South Africa, the sale of rhino horns is permitted among citizens, but exporting them is illegal. Hume and the other accused appeared in a Pretoria magistrate's court where they were granted bail. During the initial court proceedings, no pleas were entered, as is customary in South Africa at this stage.
Vigorously defending himself, Hume stated, "I have nothing to hide and have fully cooperated with investigators for years. I categorically reject the allegations against me and maintain that I have never acted unlawfully. I am confident that, once the facts are tested in court, I will be vindicated and my innocence confirmed."
Hume's former facility, Platinum Rhino, served as a home to roughly 2,000 southern white rhinos. He sold the farm in 2023, citing an inability to continue its management, despite having devoted over two decades to breeding these majestic animals. Born in Zimbabwe and raised on a sheep farm, Hume transitioned to conservation efforts after a successful career in developing holiday resorts in the 1990s.
