Oh no, the poor rhino! What seems brutally and martial at first glance – you only note the chainsaw – is actually necessary to save the life of the animal. Because without his horn, the rhino is uninteresting for poachers and can live in peace.
A new study now shows how effective this animal welfare measure is: it has shown that the targeted abortions of rhinos in eleven reserves of the South African National Park have reduced the poaching of 78 percent between 2017 and 2023. Surprisingly, the police persecution of poachers had no statistically significant effect on poaching. One might think that the prospect of money and prison punishments is deterred by many poachers, but to take the incentive for their deeds from the outset by aborting their prey from the outset.
This is primarily due to the extreme need and poverty of the poverty: “The persistent socio -economic inequality causes a large number of vulnerable and motivated people to join criminal syndicates or to promote them, even if the risks are high,” says the study. Because as a coveted ingredient in traditional Asian medicine, the horn of rhinos on the black market achieves high prices – and offers poachers a perspective on a better life.
Nevertheless, the craft must be placed – and possibly differently than before, as the researchers emphasize: “Our results present governments, donors, the private sector and non -governmental organizations with the challenge of reconsidering their strategic approaches to combat wildlife crime in general. Although the tracking and arresting of poachers are indispensable, strategies that concentrate on the reduction of possibilities and rewards for poaching, be more effective. “
Incidentally, getting her horn is not painful for rhinos, because it consists of keratin – the same material from which our fingernails also consist of. In addition, it does not fulfill no vital purpose. A rhino without a horn can still live a good life.
