Posted: July 1st, 2015

Defending the Rhino

In 2012, a young individual became overwhelmed with real life and ran away from college to live with their mother in Nairobi, Kenya. During their time abroad, the individual had the opportunity to stay and volunteer at the Ol Pejeta Conservancy, home to 106 black rhinos and 23 southern white rhinos (“Northern White Rhinos”). They bonded with two rhinos in particular, a blind black rhino named Baraka as well as the last remaining male northern white rhinoceros on the planet: Sudan. After being educated on just how close to extinction the rhino actually was, and after having had personal interactions with one of the last of their kind, they decided to pass on the knowledge and do their part in saving the magnificent rhinoceros. That individual has since moved back to Utah and happens to be the author of this essay. The rhino is in severe danger of extinction due to the rise in its horns value, which is currently twice the price of gold (Sharife 1). The rising rate of poaching for the rhinos’ horns reveals that the traditional methods to curb the poaching have failed. The global ban on rhino horn trade has also failed to stem the growing insatiable demand for the rhino horns internationally. However, there are options available: legalizing or lifting the rhino horn trade ban is one of them. The high international demand for the rhinos’ horns could also be met by shaving the horns of live rhinos humanly. Considering the case of South Africa, where poachers kill an average of two rhinos daily, it is apparent that the animals are in a serious danger of extinction if something is not done urgently (McGrath 1). The global ban on rhinoceros products has clearly failed, and legalizing the rhino horn trade is one of the few feasible options left to save the rhino from extinction.

Since the year 1970, approximately ninety percent of the rhinos’ population has dropped globally, affecting its five main species (Sharife 1). The price of one kilogram of rhino horn is approximately $60,000, which is nearly twice the value of gold that is approximately $38,000 (Sharife 1). Although no scientific research backs the horns’ medical value, the rhino horn is prized highly in the traditional Asian medicine, where it is manufactured into tablets or ground into fine powder for the treatment of various illnesses such as stroke, fever, nose bleeding, and convulsions (Becker). The high demand for the horns has led to the creation of highly organized and profitable international poaching criminal organizations, which integrate advanced technologies ranging from darting equipment, night vision scopes, helicopter, and silenced weapons to carry out their activities.

According to WWF’s African Rhino Program, the African rhino has been under severe threat since the year 2007 from poachers who have intensified their search for rhino horns due to the flourishing demand in Asia. South Africa, the home for nearly eighty percent of rhinos in Africa, is losing hundreds of rhinos to the poachers yearly, and the trend is rising. In the year 2009, approximately 122 rhinos were killed, 333, and 668 rhinos were killed in the year 2010 and 1012 respectively (Harvey 1). With the rapidly rising rate, continued poaching could see the African rhinos fade into extinction.

In the year 1977, the international trade in rhinos and their products was prohibited by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) (Leyden-Sussler). Although the ban led to the diminished demand for the horns, it created a dynamic black market for the horns. The ban did not help, as the population of rhinos has continued to decline. Countries have made efforts to ensure they have sophisticated anti-poaching operations to help save the rhino. The international conservation efforts and sophisticated anti-poaching operation only cannot stem the tide in the slaughter of rhinos. It is evident that lifting the ban developed and designed by CITES will help save the lives of the rhino.

Lifting the injunction on the rhino horn trade will lead to humane shaving of the rhino’s horns and not killing, as poachers will have no use for the rhino anymore. Humanely shaving the live rhino’s horns would help generate enough horns to meet the growing international demand (McGrath 1). Scientific research reveals that the rhinos’ horns grow with approximately 0.9 kilograms annually. Scientific research also explains that shaving or harvesting the horns poses minimal risks to the animal. Researchers are advocating the establishment of a central selling organization that could DNA fingerprint the shavings and control the market (Saxton). On the contrary, many campaigners for wildlife disagree with the notion of lifting the ban on rhino horn trade since they believe that lifting the ban is not enforceable. They also argue that the markets where the horns would be directed, specifically Vietnam do not have measures in place that would prevent laundering of the horns (McGrath 1). According to the wildlife campaigners, lifting the ban on rhino horn trade would not help stop the poaching crisis but just worsen the situation.

Lifting the ban on rhino horn trade and legalizing the trade will help countries to earn trade revenues that can be used to protect the rhinos efficiently (Leyden-Sussler). The experience with the legalization of the crocodile and parts’ trade is an example of how trading regimes can ensure the survival of threatened species. It is evident that if the legalization of trade worked with the crocodile, it could be successful with the rhinos. If the rhino horn trade is lifted, poaching of the rhinos will decline since there will be policies to ensure that only microchipped and DNA-profiled horns are traded (Harvey 1). In addition, lifting the ban will help ensure that the rhinos do not die but continue with life even after shaving of their horns. Saving the life of the rhinos is critical since their killing rate has increased significantly posing them to extinction threat.

In conclusion, lifting the ban on rhino trade may help save the rhino from extinction. The skyrocketing price of rhino horns in Asia has led to increased poaching, but if the ban is lifted then the game rangers will ensure that the horns are humanely shaved to ensure the safety of the animals. The ban has clearly failed and poaching will always exist, but lifting the ban on rhino horn trade would go a long way in keeping rhinoceros safe and reducing their chances of extinction.

Works Cited

Becker, Ruth, and Eleanor Momberg. “Medical Claims for Rhino Horn: You’re Better on an Aspirin or Biting Your Nails.” Africa Check. Ed. Peter Cuncliffe-Jones. 22 Feb. 2012. Web. 11 June 2015. < http://africacheck.org/reports/medical-claims-for-rhino-horn-youre-better-on-an-aspirin-or-biting-your-nails/>.

Harvey, Martin. “African Rhino Poaching Crisis.” WWF. Web. 10 June 2015. <http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/rhinoceros/african_rhinos/poaching_crisis_african_rhinos/>.

Leyden-Sussler, Libby. “Trade of Rhino Horns: Can It Save the Species?” World Policy Blog. World Policy Institute, 28 Jan. 2014. Web. 15 June 2015. <http://www.worldpolicy.org/blog/2014/01/28/trade-rhino-horns-can-it-save-species>.

McGrath, Matt. “Rhino Horn – Time to Legalise the Trade Say Researchers.” BBC News. 13 Feb. 2013. Web. 13 June 2015. <http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-21615280>.

“Northern White Rhinos.” Ol Pejeta Conservancy. Web. 12 June 2015. <http://www.olpejetaconservancy.org/wildlife_conservation/northern-white-rhinos>.

Saxton, Robert. “The Future of the African Rhinoceros: It’s Anything But Black & White.” Animal Legal & Historical Center. Michigan State University College of Law, 2007. Web. 12 June 2015. <https://www.animallaw.info/article/future-african-rhinoceros-it%C2%92s-anything-black-white>.

Sharife, Khadija. “Is It Time to Legalise Rhino Horn Trade?” Le Monde Diplomatique. 1 Feb. 2013. Web. 15 June 2015. <http://mondediplo.com/openpage/is-it-time-to-legalise-rhino-horn-trade>.