Game Reserves Poisoning Rhino Horns to Curtail Poaching
- 11 years ago
Game reserves are poisoning horns to curtail poaching.
Throughout history, rhinoceros horn has been highly prized for its aesthetic and alleged medicinal virtues.
Unfortunately, this has lead to the near extinction of all 5 species of the animal.
To combat poaching, a game reserve in South Africa has started to inject live rhinos’ horns with dye and toxins. And that will make anyone consuming them extremely ill, suffering from bouts of nausea, stomach ache, and diarrhea.
The mix is harmless to the animals, nonlethal to humans, and completely legal. Further, the pink dye will serve as an obvious sign the horn has been treated and best not eaten. It’s also detectable by airport scanners.
Some see the action as extreme. The people at the Sabi Sand reserve feel it is their last and only resort.
However, Tom Milliken, detractor and rhino director at a wildlife trafficking organization, believes it will only deflect the problem onto to other regions.
The measure has been approved by South African National Parks but they don’t feel it’s feasible for all areas due to the lack of resources
Throughout history, rhinoceros horn has been highly prized for its aesthetic and alleged medicinal virtues.
Unfortunately, this has lead to the near extinction of all 5 species of the animal.
To combat poaching, a game reserve in South Africa has started to inject live rhinos’ horns with dye and toxins. And that will make anyone consuming them extremely ill, suffering from bouts of nausea, stomach ache, and diarrhea.
The mix is harmless to the animals, nonlethal to humans, and completely legal. Further, the pink dye will serve as an obvious sign the horn has been treated and best not eaten. It’s also detectable by airport scanners.
Some see the action as extreme. The people at the Sabi Sand reserve feel it is their last and only resort.
However, Tom Milliken, detractor and rhino director at a wildlife trafficking organization, believes it will only deflect the problem onto to other regions.
The measure has been approved by South African National Parks but they don’t feel it’s feasible for all areas due to the lack of resources