A new study published in the journal Science confirms that dehorning rhinos significantly reduces poaching in South Africa, particularly in areas surrounding Kruger National Park.

Conducted over seven years, the research involved 11 game reserves and found that dehorning over 2,000 rhinos led to a remarkable 78% reduction in poaching in the eight reserves that implemented the practice.

Dr. Tim Kuiper, a lead author of the study, highlighted that dehorning costs only 1.2% of the overall rhino protection budget while achieving substantial results, prompting a reevaluation of anti-poaching strategies.

Dehorning has been a controversial conservation strategy for over 30 years, as it removes the primary target for poachers seeking rhino horns for illegal markets in Southeast Asia and China.

Despite concerns from animal rights activists and some conservationists about the ecological impacts, studies indicate that dehorning does not adversely affect rhino breeding or mortality rates.

The dehorning process involves sedating the rhino and safely removing the horn, which can regrow every 1.5 to two years, allowing for ongoing protection without harming the animals.

Despite the overall reduction in poaching, some poachers continue to target dehorned rhinos for horn stubs, emphasizing the need for regular dehorning and effective law enforcement.

In South Africa alone, 420 rhinos were illegally killed last year, underscoring the ongoing threats despite international bans on horn trade.

Rhinos are heavily targeted due to the illegal demand for their horns in traditional medicine markets in Southeast Asia and China, where the price of rhino horn rivals that of gold and cocaine.

Socio-economic inequalities drive vulnerable individuals to join criminal organizations or poach, with corruption allowing gangs to evade capture, further complicating conservation efforts.

During the study period, over 700 poachers were arrested, but these arrests did not significantly reduce poaching, attributed to ineffective judicial systems.

Conservationists continue to debate the implications of dehorning, including potential changes in territorial behavior and reproduction of rhinos, as well as the risk of attracting criminal elements to dehorned horn stockpiles.