South Africa's High Court has lifted a ban on the local trade in rhino horn imposed by the government in 2009, after finding that the state had not followed the process of public participation before imposing the moratorium, media reported on Thursday.

 

The ruling came after an application by two of South Africa's largest rhino farmers who wanted to overturn government's moratorium on the domestic trade in rhino horn.

 

PHOTO: A White Rhino and her calf walk in the dusk light in Pilanesberg National Park in South Africa's North West Province.