Rhino Horn Farming and Other Conservation Measures to Stop Poaching

Rhino Horn Farming and Other Conservation Measures to Stop Poaching

Most of Africa’s remaining rhinos are found in just four countries- South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Kenya. The greatest threat to African Rhinos is poaching. Rhinos are poached for their horns which are used for both ornamental purposes and traditional medicines.

Several methods are being taken to help conserve the rhino.

Rhino horn farming is perhaps one of the most inventive methods. Rhinos on this far are bred and their horn is harvested. If cut properly the rhino will survive with no ill effects and the horn will grow back. Poachers often cut crudely and leave the animal to bleed to death or the wound to be infected. By farming, the horn can be harvested every 18 months, producing ten times more horn from a single farmed rhino as compared to a poached rhino. However, many people believe that rhino farming is inherently wrong for reducing a wild animal to a commodity.

The promotion of ecotourism and the photographic safari over a hunting safari is an important measure. In this way, revenue is generated for the local communities, some of which can go back to the park and be used to protect rhinos. However, at the same time it is important to make sure the tourists are not countering conservation efforts. Particularly with the advancement of new technology and people’s tendency to post everything on social media, being careful of the images being posted is vital. Signs in South Africa near the parks now read, “Please be careful when sharing photos on social media. They can lead poachers to our rhino. Turn off the geotag function and do not disclose where the photo was taken.”

Perhaps the most important measure is education of the general public. Teaching people why rhinos are vital to the ecosystem and why their conservation is important is key. Many people don’t realize rhino horn is often obtained illegally; in a survey of conducted in China in 2014, 2/3rds of participants thought rhino horn was obtained legally from rhinos that had died of natural causes or been farmed, and half didn’t know it was illegal to purchase rhino horn in China. “After I heard that there is no difference between a rhino horn and a human fingernail in nature, I think it might have no especially great medicinal value,” a Beijing woman told the survey. This type of simple educational change can go a long way towards protecting the species.

-Stephanie Sila