Rhino poaching in South Africa is a very serious issue, as of the 31 December 2011- 343 rhinos have been killed so far this year, outstripping last year’s total of 333. We already lost 8 Rhinos in the second week of January 2012.
Rhino poachers in SA are even targeting dehorned rhinos for two reasons, firstly there is still a substantial piece of horn below the surface of the skin and secondly by killing the rhino it increases the price of rhino horn as it becomes a more valuable commodity. It is for this second reason that many poachers are also killing baby rhinos which have little or no horn at all. Fewer rhinos equals more money per kilogram of rhino horn.
Rhino horn is widely used in Chinese culture as it is believed it can cure a wide variety of ailments varying from boils to cancer and even devil possession. It has no medicinal value it is compressed hair or kerratin the same as you would find in your finger nails.
In middle east culture rhino horn is a status symbol if you have one as a sheath for your dagger. Needless to say many other materials could be used. Please go and sign the stop Rhino Poaching petition on Turn it Around -
http://www.turnitaround.co.za/petition/39/stop-rhino-poaching or join the Stop Rhino Poaching page on Facebook -
https://www.facebook.com/RhinoPoaching .
Your signature is massively appreciated.
