A new study shows that cutting off rhino horns significantly reduces poaching rates, achieving a 78% decrease from 2017 to 2023 in South Africa's Greater Kruger region. Despite the high costs associated with anti-poaching methods like ranger patrols and surveillance technology, these strategies show limited impact on poaching reduction. The research advocates for dehorning as a more effective and economically viable method to protect rhinos, emphasizing the need to rethink current conservation strategies.
Cutting the horns off rhinos causes a large reduction in poaching, reducing poaching rates by nearly 80% without the extensive costs of traditional anti-poaching measures.
Despite the multimillion-dollar costs of anti-poaching interventions, the methods such as rangers and detection cameras have not significantly reduced rhino poaching.
Dr. Tim Kuiper argues we might need to rethink our goals, suggesting that dehorning provides a more effective approach to reducing incentives for poachers.
The process of dehorning involves sedating the rhino, using a power saw, and safely managing the animal's recovery, allowing the horn to regrow.
Collection
[
|
...
]