Removing rhino horns slashed poaching by nearly 80 percent in a major South African conservation area, new research reveals.
The seven-year study, published in Science, tracked 11 reserves near Kruger National Park, home to the world’s largest rhino population.
From 2017 to 2023, nearly 2,000 rhinos were killed despite $74 million spent on patrols, rangers, and arrests of 700 poachers.
In stark contrast, dehorning 2,284 rhinos cut poaching by 78 percent at just 1.2 percent of the enforcement budget.
Researchers say the method is not foolproof—some poachers still targeted horn stumps and regrowth, underscoring the need for repeated dehorning.
Rhino horns are highly prized in Asian black markets for traditional medicine and as symbols of wealth, fetching more than gold or cocaine.
The study highlights how poverty and inequality fuel the recruitment of poachers, often by syndicates aided by corrupt insiders.
Experts argue that reducing the rewards and opportunities for poaching may be more effective than relying solely on arrests.
While dehorning shows promise, its long-term effects on rhino behaviour and biology remain uncertain, researchers caution.
Current evidence suggests it may alter how rhinos use space, though survival and reproduction appear unaffected.
Co-authors of the study hail from South African universities and global conservation groups, including Save the Rhino International.
As of late 2023, South Africa had over 16,000 rhinos, mostly white rhinos, though more than 30 were still killed monthly.
In a bold 2024 initiative, South African scientists began injecting rhino horns with radioactive material to deter smuggling.
The substance is harmless to animals and the environment but renders horns toxic for human use and detectable at borders.
Black rhinos remain critically endangered, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.