Saving the Rhino: The benefit of horn legalisation

Last year, the last male Northern White Rhino, a sub-species of rhino previously found in East and Central Africa, died in captivity, effectively consigning the species to the history books. This imminent extinction is not the result of disease, habitat loss, or natural competition. It is the result of systematic and merciless poaching, primarily to sell rhino horn in lucrative East Asian markets.

The hunting of wild rhino is not a new phenomenon, with trophy hunting going back centuries, whether by local tribesmen in coming-of-age ceremonies or wealthy foreigners drawn by the attraction of hunting one of the biggest animals on the planet. Figures are notoriously difficult to verify, but in 2018 alone over 15,000 trophies (which in this context means animal remains to place above fireplaces) were exported from South Africa, most to the US. What is new is the lure it offers to rural communities as a way to quickly escape the ravages of poverty. The rapidly growing number of people involved in the poaching industry is the key factor pushing these animals ever closer to extinction.

A Southern White rhino, photo taken by the author in South Africa, 2015

Procedures are in place to attempt to deal with the relentless poaching, but as is shown by the continued decrease in rhino populations, these remain ineffective. Anti-poaching units set up to deter and, in some cases, fight poachers are in place on those reserves which can afford this costly measure, but the great expense and the frequency of inside-jobs have shown it to be ineffectual in halting the overall trend. Methods to decrease the attractiveness and value of the horn itself, such as dyeing, poisoning, or simply removing the horn, have also not been successful. Dyed rhino horn can still be sold, as can those which have been poisoned, simply requiring dishonesty on the behalf of the poacher, hardly something that would be considered implausible considering their line of work. Removing the horn also has shown mixed results, as current procedures make it necessary to leave at least 10% of the horn which, given the extraordinary value currently placed on rhino horn (roughly $6000 per kilo), means the reward still proves worth the risk. There are also accounts of poachers killing the rhinos that have been de-horned to save the expense, time, and risk of tracking an animal in the future.

Despite the large amounts of horn travelling through the black market, considerably more languishes in warehouses in African nations. This supply has accumulated both due to de-horning of live rhinos to deter poaching, and the collection of the horn of those animals that die of natural causes. Several countries, including South Africa (where the largest amounts of rhino horn are stored) have considered legislation legalising the trade of horn and horn-based products, an idea which has received severe push-back from animal rights groups. However, there are several positives to this plan.

The most simplistic is the flooding of the market that would follow legalisation, leading to the rapid decrease in the price of the product, which in turn would lead to a huge drop in available wages for potential poachers. Secondly, an ability to control and regulate the trade of rhino horn would have several obvious benefits, specifically monitoring the buyers’ market in East Asia, and increased trade and availability would improve scientific opportunity to refute the nonsensical health benefits attributed to the horn. Finally, as the profits from the sale of horn would be going to the governments and game reserves responsible for the protection of the remaining wild rhino there would be scope for large funds being given toward further conservation efforts. This should take the form of further anti-poaching units, but more importantly the increase in environmental education courses and employment initiatives in those rural communities most susceptible to the lures of a career in poaching.

There are negatives to the systematic de-horning of rhino populations, including the as-yet unknown behavioural impacts this would cause, as well as potential effects upon tourism, but considering the alternatives this seems a reasonable price to pay.

Time is running out to take action and implement policies that will save the rhino. Current strategies based on armed guards and anti-poaching initiatives are proving unsuccessful and ineffective. For those governments burdened with the responsibility of taking action, legalisation and regulation of the trade is the path most likely to lead to success.

Author: Cormac Healy