Horns without horn: Success against poaching in South Africa?

Horns without horn: Success against poaching in South Africa?

Krüger Nationalpark, Südafrika - In recent years, the poaching of rhinos in Africa has accepted dramatic proportions. In South Africa in particular, many of the majestic animals are acutely at risk. Despite the international ban on trade for rhino horns, the smuggling blooms, especially to Asia, where the horn is very popular for cultural and supposedly medical reasons. The value of a rhino horn can reach tens of thousands of US dollars per kilogram, which for many people in poor conditions creates an incentive to get into poaching in order to secure their livelihood. In order to counteract this problem, animal rights activists use various protective measures, including armed rangers and modern techniques such as drones. However, it is a tough fight against poachers who use GPS and trace readers to track down the animals and kill them brutally, often with firearms. According to Watson, 420 Breitmaul- und Spitzmaulhnershnern alone were killed in 2024.

A strategy that is increasingly proving itself is the aborturial of the rhinos under general anesthesia. An analysis of the Nelson-Mandela University shows that this measure significantly lowers the risk of poaching: a rhino with horn has a risk of 13%, while removing rhinos only have a risk of 0.6%. However, this method is not without challenges, since the horn stump grows after a certain time and the animals become a target for poachers again. In the Krüger National Park, another hotspot for poaching, many rhinos have already been unexisted, while the poachers are now concentrating on the horned stocks, as in the Hluhluwe filmfolozi park. Despite these measures, the losses of the rhinos in Kwazulu-Natal (KZN) increase, as the CEO of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Seel Mkhize, states. The decision to remove was necessary, but contradicts the values ​​of the nature conservation authority. The authority receives financial support from the WWF South Africa to cover the costs that must be repeated for the procedure, which must be repeated every 18 to 24 months (https://www.wwf.de/themen-projekte/betrohte-und-pflanzenarten/nashoerer/nohern-ohn-horn).

signs of hope

Despite all the adversities, there are also encouraging news. According to a current study, the meal stocks in Africa have increased as a whole, even though the poaching continues to be a major problem. The number of freely living black rhinos is 6,487, which corresponds to an increase of 4.2%. There are also positive news for white rhinos: their number has grown to 16,803, an increase of 5.6%. It is the first increase since 2012. Dr. Michael Knight from the IUCN African Rhino Specialist Group emphasizes the importance of building on these progress and developing innovative approaches to combat poaching research and Knowledge.

A promising project for the breeding of white rhinos is to be continued via the African Park Foundation, with the aim of making 2,000 rhinos over the next ten years. These initiatives are not only important for the preservation of biodiversity, but also for economic development, since rhinos creates habitats for other species and boost the tourism sector. In order to permanently ensure this progress, increased measures to protect habitats and close cooperation with local communities are essential.