A seven-year study conducted in the Greater Kruger region of South Africa reveals that removing rhino horns has led to a dramatic decrease in poaching. Researchers found that poaching incidents fell by nearly 80% in areas where rhinos were dehorned.

The Study’s Key Findings

• Poaching Reduction: Dehorning resulted in a 78% reduction in poaching incidents.
• Cost-Effectiveness: The cost of dehorning represented only 1.2% of the $74 million spent on law enforcement measures.
• Continued Threats: Certain poaching of disoriented rhinos have continued, the poachers targeting the hulls of horns and regrowth, which underlines the need for regular densation associated with a judicious application of the law.

The Poaching Crisis in South Africa

South Africa is home to the majority of the world’s rhino population, including the critically endangered black rhinoceros. The country has been heavily impacted by poaching, driven by high demand in Asian countries where rhino horns are prized for traditional medicine and as a status symbol.

The illegal rhino horn trade is lucrative, with prices rivaling those of gold and cocaine. This fuels organized crime and endangers rhino populations.

Socio-Economic Factors and Corruption

Researchers emphasize that socio-economic inequalities play a meaningful role in driving poaching activities.

Persistent socio-economic inequalities encourage a large number of vulnerable and motivated people to join criminal organizations or poaching for them, even when the risks are high.

Corruption also facilitates poaching, with criminal gangs frequently enough receiving information from informants that allows them to evade arrest.

The Impact of dehorning on Rhinos

While dehorning has proven effective in reducing poaching, the long-term effects on rhino behavior and ecology are still being studied.

The effects of the densation on the biology of rhinoceros is still not clear, current research suggesting that the densation can modify the use by the rhinos of their territory, but (without affecting) their survival and reproduction.

Additional Measures and Future Strategies

beyond dehorning, South Africa has implemented other measures to combat poaching, including increased law enforcement efforts and the deployment of guards and dogs. In 2024, scientists began injecting radioactive materials into rhino horns to aid in border detection and deter consumption.

The radioactive materials used in the experiment did not affect animal health or the habitat but made the horns toxic for human consumption, according to the University of Witwatersrand.

Study Details

The study was a collaborative effort involving researchers from Nelson Mandela University, the University of Cape Town, the Wildlife Conservation Network, and Save the rhino International.