Removing rhino horns slashes poaching in South Africa by nearly 80%

By Stephen Beech

Rhino poaching has been reduced by almost 80% since their iconic horns were removed by conservationists.

Dehorning more than 2,000 of the endangered species to reduce incentives for poaching led to a 78% reduction, according to new research

The findings come from an analysis of data across 11 reserves in the Greater Kruger region of South Africa between 2017 and 2023 by an international team, including Oxford University researchers, published in the journal Science .

Poaching for their horn is a major threat to the world’s five rhino species.

Some believe the horns have medicinal properties and they fetch huge prices on the black market, particularly in Asia

Study lead author Dr. Tim Kuiper, of Nelson Mandela University in South Africa, said: “We documented th