The dramatic acceleration in levels of poaching of elephants Loxodonta africana and rhinoceroses in southern and eastern Africa has been identified as one of the most important challenges facing biodiversity conservation (Wasser et al., Reference Wasser, Poole, Lee, Lindsay, Dobson and Hart2010; Milliken & Shaw, Reference Milliken and Shaw2012; Underwood et al., Reference Underwood, Burn and Milliken2013). Rates of poaching of the white rhinoceros Ceratotherium simum, and to a lesser extent the black rhinoceros Diceros bicornis, in South Africa have increased from a mean of 15 per year during 1990–2007 to 1,175 in 2015 (Anonymous, 2016). This has affected the viability of populations and undermined decades of concerted, and successful, conservation action that had led to population recovery of both black and white rhinoceroses since the mid 20th century (Milliken, Reference Milliken2014; Van Noorden, Reference Van Noorden2016).

Rhinoceros poaching in Africa is a direct result of increasing demand in South-east and East Asian countries where cultural, historical, medicinal and more modern beliefs render rhinoceros horn a luxury good, an investment opportunity and a status symbol (Milliken & Shaw, Reference Milliken and Shaw2012; Gao et al., Reference Gao, Stoner, Lee and Clark2016). Three decades of unprecedented social, political and economic transformation have generated important opportunities for improvements in quality of life and increased purchasing power across the majority of Asian economies. However, this has also given rise to trends such as the conspicuous consumption and individual ownership of unique, precious and rare wildlife products, and created unsustainable demand for illegal wildlife products.

We provide data on the availability and price of rhinoceros horn in Mong La, an open wildlife market in Myanmar, on the border with China, based on surveys conducted during 2006–2015, showing an increase in the availability of rhinoceros horn and demonstrating demand, and high prices, predominantly from Chinese consumers.

We visited Mong La on five occasions (February 2006, February 2009, January 2014, and February and March 2015), during which we conducted surveys of the town's open wildlife market and its wildlife shops. Apart from the survey in March 2015, when time constraints prevented us from visiting all wildlife shops, all outlets selling wildlife were surveyed and any rhinoceros horn on display was noted; the trade in wildlife in Mong La is open and few, if any, of the products are hidden from view, and this openness has not changed in the 10 years we have visited this market.

The open market offers a variety of mostly local species for sale, including the Bengal slow loris Nycticebus bengalensis, the red muntjac Muntiacus muntjak, the Eurasian wild pig Sus scrofa and many more, whereas the shops specialize in luxury items such as trophies, carnivore skins and elephant ivory. Although the trade is open, especially in the high-end shops, with a variety of protected species on display, traders were wary when dealing with luxury wares and it was challenging to obtain detailed information on aspects of the rhinoceros horn trade other than the presence or absence of horns.

During the first two visits few, if any, wildlife parts and derivatives from Africa were observed (Shepherd & Nijman, Reference Shepherd and Nijman2007). During the third survey large volumes of ivory, purportedly including African ivory (Nijman & Shepherd, Reference Nijman and Shepherd2014), and a single rhinoceros horn were observed. Based on the approximately square-shaped base of the large horn, we identified it as that of a white rhinoceros. In February 2015 we observed rhinoceros products displayed openly in three shops. Rhinoceros horn was available in four forms: as raw horn tip (one observed, priced at CNY 280,000 (USD 45,550), tentatively identified as that of a white rhinoceros), in small c. 30 g discs originating from the horn core (15–20 observed, priced at CNY 1,400 or USD 224 per g), as powder claimed to be rhinoceros horn (species undetermined; 1 small container), and in the form of bangles of c. 10 cm diameter (5–10 observed). In March 2015 a fourth shop displayed a single horn of a white rhinoceros openly on the counter.

The shops where the rhinoceros horn products were observed all specialized in high-end and high-value wildlife, mostly for decorative purposes. Items on offer included whole elephant tusks, carved elephant ivory, carved common hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius canines, Tibetan antelope Pantholops hodgsonii heads, tiger Panthera tigris and leopard Panthera pardus skins, and helmeted hornbill Rhinoplax vigil casques.

Mong La's geographical location on the border with China, limited control by the central Myanmar Government, and the presence of the Chinese entertainment industry provide ideal conditions for the town to have developed as a global wildlife trade hub catering for the Chinese market (Nijman & Shepherd, Reference Nijman and Shepherd2015; Nijman et al., Reference Nijman, Zhang and Shepherd2016). All clientele in the markets were Chinese, the currency used was the Yuan Renminbi (CNY), and the language of daily use in Mong La is Chinese. It is reasonable to assume the products for sale in Mong La are intended primarily to meet the demand in China. There is an increasing focus on Vietnam as a major destination for rhinoceros horn (Milliken & Shaw, Reference Milliken and Shaw2012); however, our findings indicate demand from Chinese consumers. The species on offer, including high-value species not native to Myanmar and several African species, suggest that organized criminal syndicates are involved in the wildlife trade between Myanmar and Africa, sometimes via China (traders mentioned the African products were coming in via China, presumably as it would be riskier to sell these openly in China itself). Increasingly it becomes clear from field observations, market surveys and analysis of seizure data and prosecutions that poaching operations involving rhinoceros horn, and the subsequent smuggling of rhinoceros horn, have become more sophisticated, better planned and professionally executed (Warchol, Reference Warchol2004; Milledge, Reference Milledge2007; Wright, Reference Wright2011; Ayling, Reference Ayling2013; Wyatt, Reference Wyatt2013).

The observed increase in availability of rhinoceros horn in Mong La on the Myanmar–China border during 2006–2015 follows, but with an apparent slight delay, the increase in availability of ivory and elephant parts in Mong La, the former probably originating mainly from Africa (Nijman & Shepherd, Reference Nijman and Shepherd2014). Although it is difficult to obtain evidence from market observations alone, the availability of the parts of several high-value species (rhinoceros, hippopotamus, elephant) in the same shops, all originating from the same region (i.e. sub-Saharan Africa), suggests these parts have been brought in along the same routes and possibly by the same syndicates.

It is likely that the volume of rhinoceros horn currently available in Mong La is significantly higher than we observed during the 2015 surveys. The observation of rhinoceros horn jewellery, in the form of bangles, may indicate speculative demand, with rhinoceros horn products being regarded as a high-yielding investment product, as has been suggested for ivory (Gao & Clark, Reference Gao and Clark2014). Crookes & Blignaut (Reference Crookes and Blignaut2015) reported the 2013 wholesale price of rhinoceros horn in South Africa was USD 32,500 per kg. Our quoted prices are equivalent to USD 224,360 per kg, when traded in small quantities, and the displayed price for the raw horn tip was > USD 45,000. Given the open nature of the trade, and that this information was obtained by our local guide through conversations with vendors, we do not believe these prices are significantly inflated, but are indicative of the increasingly large amounts some people in Asia are willing to pay for rhinoceros horn.

Both China and Myanmar are signatories to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), making any cross-border trade in rhinoceros horn illegal, as all five extant rhinoceros species are listed in Appendix I of CITES (2017). The open display of the horns in Mong La illustrates the lack of concern for national laws prohibiting the trade. With no Myanmar Government presence currently in Mong La, in our view it is imperative that the Government of China intensifies its scrutiny and enforcement efforts at the Mong La–Daluo border crossing, making it a non-viable option for smugglers. In recent years two of the organizations we work for, TRAFFIC and WWF, have engaged with both the Myanmar and Chinese governments regarding the trade in wildlife on the Mong La–Dalou border, as well as with the CITES Secretariat. TRAFFIC continues to monitor trade in key areas, such as Mong La, to influence and inform other conservation organizations, media and governments to take appropriate actions. TRAFFIC's information is also used to guide capacity building and training efforts for enforcement agencies, and to support enforcement actions. WWF–Greater Mekong opened an office in Myanmar in 2014 and has engaged with the central government regarding the seriousness of wildlife trafficking in Mong La and its links with international criminal syndicates. As Myanmar's Special Regions become more integrated with Union government as part of the ongoing peace process, we anticipate opportunities for increasing law enforcement effectiveness in Myanmar.