Trimming the horns of wild rhinos drastically lowers poaching rates. A new study in South Africa found a 78% average drop in illegal killings. This simple method outperformed all other anti-poaching strategies.
Scientists examined black and white rhino populations across 11 reserves in the Greater Kruger area. They dehorned 2,284 rhinos and tracked poaching deaths from 2017 to 2023. Their research covered a vast 2.4 million-hectare landscape with about 25% of Africa’s rhinos.
HORN DEMAND FUELS ILLEGAL KILLING
Rhino horns, made of keratin like human nails, have no proven medicinal value. Yet, demand remains dangerously high. This has pushed many of the species to the brink of extinction due to poaching.
TRADITIONAL ANTI-POACHING METHODS FALL SHORT
Most anti-poaching funds support ranger patrols, cameras, and tracking dogs. These efforts led to around 700 poacher arrests but did not significantly reduce rhino killings. Corruption among law enforcement partly undermined these results.
DEHORNING EXPLAINED: SAFE AND EFFECTIVE
Dehorning is like trimming nails or hair. It does not harm rhinos, as growth plates remain intact. Horns regrow over time, but removing them removes the main incentive for poachers. This method used only 1.2% of the rhino protection budget yet proved highly effective.
“Dehorning rhinos to reduce incentives for poaching – with 2,284 rhinos dehorned across eight reserves – was found to achieve a 78 percent reduction in poaching, using just 1.2 percent of the overall protection budget,” says conservation biologist Tim Kuiper of Nelson Mandela University in South Africa.
CHALLENGES REMAIN: HORN REGROWTH AND POACHER DISPLACEMENT
Some poachers still targeted rhinos with horn stumps, killing 111 dehorned animals. Additionally, poachers often shifted to other areas where they remained horned. Conservation efforts must adapt to these challenges.
DATA-DRIVEN CONSERVATION CRITICAL FOR SURVIVAL
Res Altwegg, an ecologist, emphasized the importance of collecting detailed data to measure intervention success. This study highlights how solid evidence guides more effective conservation strategies. The research honors Sharon Haussmann of the Greater Kruger Environmental Protection Foundation for her key role.
