John Hume built the world’s largest private sanctuary for white rhinos in South Africa, hoping to save them by legally selling their horns like a renewable resource. His bold idea mixed business with conservation, drawing attention and hope. But soon, his plans were shadowed by serious legal troubles, with accusations that rhino horns were secretly smuggled to illegal markets. This sparked a fierce debate about whether treating wild animals like commodities helps or harms their survival. Hume’s story remains a powerful and complicated example of ambition clashing with the risks of exploiting nature.