- checking login information
Loading...100 Rhinos Slaughtered In Less Than Two Months
100 rhinos have been killed in less than two months in South Africa’s Kruger National Park. AFP reports that this “surge” in rhino killings by poachers means that the number of the endangered animals killed this year could surpass the total of 381 killed last year.
80 percent of the world’s remaining 20,000 rhinos live in South Africa. Driving the killings is the black market for rhino horns in Asia — including Malaysia, South Korea, India and China — where the horns are thought to have healing properties.
Rhino horns are composed completely of keratin, which is found in hair, fingernails and animal hooves; chemical examination of the horns has shown that they are similar in structure to the beaks of turtles, cockatoo bills and horses’ hooves. In traditional Chinese medicine, the horns are ground up into a powder that is dissolved in water to treat fever, rheumatism, gout and other conditions. A PBS reports cites a 16th century Chinese pharmacist, Li Shi Chen, who said that rhino horns could be used for all manner of ailments including snakebites, hallucinations, typhoid, headaches, carbuncles, vomiting, food poisoning and even “devil possession.”
PBS cites a 1990 Chinese University in Hong Kong study that found that “large doses of rhino horn extract could slightly lower fever in rats (as could extracts from Saiga antelope and water buffalo horn).” But the concentration of horn used by practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine is much less than scientists used in their experiments.
In 2007, thirteen rhinos were killed. In 2010, that number rose to 333.
South Africa has deployed soldiers and investigators to the parks to fight the poachers. But the real issue is the external demand for the horns. As Albi Modise, a spokesman for South Africa’s department of environmental affairs says to AFP, “You can put all the resources at home, but if you don’t address the demand outside South Africa, you will not win the battle.”
Rhinos are being killed in increasingly larger numbers so their horns can be used for outmoded and inaccurate medical theories that will, it seems too likely, exist long after the last rhino dies.
Related Care2 Coverage
Rhino Ranches Take New Approach to Prevent Poaching
Western Black Rhino Declared Extinct
UK Deal To Prevent Rhino Extinction
Read more: endangered species, rhino, rhinoceros, south africa, traditional chinese medicine
Photo by Jason Wharam
Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may
not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.
Recent Comments from Causes
Thank you sharing this info with us...
Noted..
Thanks for sharing
meet our writers
103 comments
+ add your ownWhat a tragedy... Really sad news. :'(
One of the saddest reports I have heard in a while. I am completely embarrassed and appalled. I am so sorry.
What a cruelty! That's very sad...
Damned the cruelty of humans.
no animals left, they will go after humans
Just so sad. Let them kill everything then what will these assholes do?
There should be an international ban on any commercial trade with these complicit Asian countries. Let us all call for a world wide ban on imports of all products from these countries until they have proved that they are taking seriously positive action against the import of rhino horn, elephant tusks, lion teeth and all forms of wild animal trade. We as a family have taken a decision not to buy anything manufactured in China, Vietnam and Korea as a first step in this direction, with Japan close on their heels following their attitude towards dolphin and whale hunting. Not that our protest will be noticed perhaps, but it is a matter of principle and if more people cared, it could grow to being a significant protest. Something needs to be done and governments don't seem to have the will to make it happen.
This has to stop!!!!
leave them alone!!!!!!!!!! what's the difference than the fur trade?
Sad how screwed up humans can be! My thoughts will be with all those trying to protect these creatures and my thoughts will run with wildlife hoping they stay safe.What if: can large towers be built and alarms planted and cameras planted to catch these killers? When caught need to hurt them where it really hurts,maybe then others won't want to risk getting caught.These countries need consequences for encouraging this man hunt to kill animals.Kind of like space,the way we travel to see it from here,put towers in around areas with something that shows whats going on underneath the trees.Where their is a will,there is a way.Laws need to get stiiffer for the ones caught.
login to add your comment
use your care2 login
add your comment