Legalizing rhino horn trade: A controversial conservation tactic
They aim to protect an endangered species, but their chosen method is stirring up controversy. Scientists are proposing to legalize the trade of rhino horn to reduce poaching.
The illegal trade of powdered rhino horn fetches astronomical prices on the black market, and poaching of rhinos in Africa continues to rise despite dedicated efforts to stop it.
While ecologists and animal rights activists are working to find effective ways to end this practice and assist illegally killed animals, a group of scientists has a somewhat controversial proposal.
According to the Interia portal, as of 2023, the number of rhinos threatened with extinction has been systematically decreasing. In just the first half of 2024, 229 rhinos were killed in South Africa, and the total population of this species today is approximately 70,000 individuals.
The ban on rhino horn trade has theoretically been in place for nearly 50 years (in effect since 1977). However, in Asian countries, the powdered horn continues to be viewed as a status symbol and is widely used in Chinese medicine.
In 2023, out of a population of about 20,000 white and 4,500 black rhinos in South Africa, over 1,200 were killed by poachers. A group of scientists, therefore, wants to legalize the sale of horns, suggesting it would cut down on illegal poaching and the trading of horns on the black market.
Rhino horn grows back in a way similar to human nails, and supporters claim that removing it humanely under anesthesia could help protect these animals' lives. The funds obtained this way could be used to further support the protection of these rare creatures.
Legal trade would remove revenue from international criminal groups and provide resources for rhino protection, argues Martin Wikelski from the Max Planck Institute in Germany.
