Poaching remains one of the biggest threats to all five rhino species, driven by demand for their horns in traditional medicine markets in countries like China and Vietnam. Although the horn is made of keratin—the same material as human fingernails—it is falsely believed to treat ailments such as fever, pain, and low libido, with black-market prices reaching tens of thousands of dollars, News.az reports citing The Guardian.com.
However, recent research published in the journal Science has identified a more effective deterrent. In South Africa’s Greater Kruger region, which hosts about a quarter of Africa’s rhinos, dehorning programs led to an almost 80% drop in poaching between 2017 and 2023.
In a joint effort involving scientists, conservationists, and government officials, new research found no clear evidence that traditional anti-poaching methods—such as ranger patrols, surveillance cameras, tracking dogs, and helicopters—significantly reduced rhino poaching, despite their high financial costs. While these approaches successfully identified and apprehended many poachers, they had little measurable impact on preventing killings.
In South Africa, rhino poaching remains a serious threat, with 103 animals killed in the first quarter of 2025 and 420 lost in 2024. Across Africa and Asia, rhino populations have declined sharply in recent decades due to poaching and habitat loss—an ongoing trend that began during the era of European colonial hunting.
Researchers from the University of Cape Town, Nelson Mandela University, Stellenbosch University, the University of Oxford, and various conservation organizations emphasize that while dehorning has shown promising results, it is not a perfect solution. After dehorning, a portion of the horn still remains, and some poachers are willing to kill rhinos for this residual stump.
Sharon Haussmann, a prominent South African rhino conservationist and co-author of the study, was instrumental in coordinating the collaborative efforts behind the project. She passed away unexpectedly over the weekend, and her colleagues, including Dr. Tim Kuiper, highlighted the importance of cross-sector cooperation in honoring her legacy.
“There’s a deeper question: is a rhino still a rhino without its horn?” Kuiper reflected.
Studies on black rhinos suggest that while dehorning can reduce poaching, it may also alter natural behavior. Dehorned rhinos have been observed to roam less and behave more cautiously, likely due to the horn’s role in marking territory and social interactions.
“We don’t want to be dehorning rhinos for the next century,” said Kuiper. “Ultimately, we need to tackle the root causes of poaching—but for now, dehorning is a better option than losing more rhinos.”
“Dehorning rhinos to remove the incentive for poachers led to a 78% drop in poaching, using just 1.2% of the total rhino protection budget,” said Dr. Tim Kuiper of Nelson Mandela University, one of the study’s lead authors. “We need to reassess our objectives. If the goal is simply to catch poachers, that might not be enough—because it doesn’t seem to be stopping the poaching itself.”
Dehorning involves sedating the rhino, covering its eyes and ears, and using a power saw to remove the horn—a painless procedure that poses minimal risk. The horn naturally regrows, requiring the animal to be dehorned roughly every 18 to 24 months.
“The standout finding is the clear effectiveness of dehorning,” Kuiper added. “We’re not saying other methods aren’t useful—they’re good at catching poachers. But catching poachers doesn’t necessarily translate into fewer rhinos being killed.”
