Zimbabwe wildlife boss put on leave over missing rhino horns

HARARE, Zimbabwe – Zimbabwe’s wildlife management authority said it has sent its director-general on leave to allow for investigations into more than 220 kilograms (485 pounds) of missing rhino horns.

Spokeswoman Caroline Washaya-Moyo said Tuesday that director-general Edson Chidziya will be on leave for the next two months.

“The move has been taken to allow for an audit. This follows anomalies in the rhino horn stockpiles amounting to 228 kilograms,” she said in a statement.

Zimbabwe is lobbying to be allowed to sell its growing stockpile of rhino and elephant horns at the upcoming Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species conference scheduled for September.

The southern African country argues that the CITES trade ban on its ivory is affecting conservation efforts and promoting poaching.