Dehorning rhinos: the only effective way to combat poaching?
According to a study published Thursday, June 5, in the journal Science, conducted in reserves in South Africa and Mozambique, cutting rhino horns has reduced poaching by 78%. This is a cause for hope, even if the method raises questions, in the fight against this scourge that threatens the animal, whose horns are prized on the black market for their supposed medicinal properties.
"Rhino poaching has become a multi-million dollar illegal business, often controlled by multinational criminal organizations," notes Science . The reason is "unfounded" beliefs that the keratin in their horns has health benefits. This explains why they are highly prized for traditional medicine, particularly in countries like China and Vietnam .
And Science points out that "several million dollars" are spent each year against poaching. However, despite "a lot of effort ," rhino populations continue to decline. What if the solution was... to cut off their horns? According to the conclusions of a study published on June 5 by the scientific journal, which made it its cover story, this practice, which has become common in South Africa, is "the only one" to "significantly reduce" rhino deaths from poaching.
To achieve this result, a team of researchers led by South African scientist Tim Kuiper, a biodiversity specialist, started from the observation that 1,985 rhinos had been victims of poaching in 11 reserves in South Africa – which is home to the largest population
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