# Controlled rhino dehorning **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [March 20, 2012, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controlled-rhino-dehorning/616300 "2012-03-20T12:43:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![biddee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@biddee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/biddee)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controlled-rhino-dehorning/616300/1 "2012-03-20T12:43:57Z")
What do you think of the controlled dehorning of rhinos in Africa to discourage poaching? The incidence of rhino poaching has increased [exponentially](http://www.stoprhinopoaching.com/statistics.aspx) in South Africa with 448 rhinos being killed last year and already in March 138 rhinos have been killed for their horns. At a game reserve very close to where I grew up, 3 rhinos were poached earlier this month. One died and two others are being watched carefully. They have now [dehorned](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTqbcHN-dhg&feature=related)all the other rhinos on the reserve. [There are even calls for the reintroduction of controlled sale of rhino horn](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15355494) which in my opinion could save the rhinos. What do you think? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controlled-rhino-dehorning/616300/2 "2012-03-20T12:54:02Z")
[Previous thread on subject.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=587575&highlight=Rhino) ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controlled-rhino-dehorning/616300/3 "2012-03-20T13:11:28Z")
How does what poachers do differ from what conservationists do? Is it like the difference between trimming your fingernails and pulling them out? ---
**Author:** ![biddee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@biddee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/biddee)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controlled-rhino-dehorning/616300/4 "2012-03-20T13:17:40Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > [Previous thread on subject.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=587575&highlight=Rhino) Thanks! Didn’t see that thread. In the meantime, a couple of people asked in that thread if rhino horns grow back, yes they do, but very slowly. They grow at a rate of 1 to 3 inches a year. Since the horns are basically compacted keratin, cutting them off will not hurt the rhino physically as long as the base is not cut into (kind of like cutting your nails). It may, however, play a role in their social interactions. On preview, yes Grumman! The poachers leave gaping wounds that usually get infected or the animal bleeds out if they don’t shoot to kill in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controlled-rhino-dehorning/616300/5 "2012-03-20T13:26:42Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > How does what poachers do differ from what conservationists do? Is it like the difference between trimming your fingernails and pulling them out? It’s the difference between trimming your nails, and putting two shots in your brain…so we can trim your nails in peace. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controlled-rhino-dehorning/616300/6 "2012-03-20T13:31:34Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > [Previous thread on subject.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=587575&highlight=Rhino) [And another.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=424996) ---
**Author:** ![biddee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@biddee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/biddee)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controlled-rhino-dehorning/616300/7 "2012-03-20T13:46:02Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > [And another.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=424996) That thread is from 2007 :). Rhino poaching has increased since then and I think it’s a relevant topic. Apparently they are now saying that rhino horn cures cancer (on some chinese herbal medicine sites), which is why it has become more valuable. I know that South Africa has a massive stockpile of rhino horn from natural deaths etc. Would making the sale of rhino horn legal actually reduce poaching? ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controlled-rhino-dehorning/616300/8 "2012-03-20T14:31:27Z")
> [@biddee](#): > > I know that South Africa has a massive stockpile of rhino horn from natural deaths etc. Would making the sale of rhino horn legal actually reduce poaching? Probably. It would have to be done in a manner that undercuts the poachers though. If you don’t then it will continue to be a lucrative industry. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controlled-rhino-dehorning/616300/9 "2012-03-20T14:38:34Z")
> [@Acid\_Lamp](#): > > Probably. It would have to be done in a manner that undercuts the poachers though. If you don’t then it will continue to be a lucrative industry. And as I mentioned in the previous thread, the poachers will not take such an attempt to undercut their profits lightly. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controlled-rhino-dehorning/616300/10 "2012-03-20T17:03:50Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > And as I mentioned in the previous thread, the poachers will not take such an attempt to undercut their profits lightly. Heaven forbid we offend the poachers. If they become bellicose, we can shoot them with a clear conscience. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controlled-rhino-dehorning/616300/11 "2012-03-20T17:13:05Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Heaven forbid we offend the poachers. If they become bellicose, we can shoot them with a clear conscience. There aren’t enough rolleyes on the internet for your comment. This has nothing to do with “offending” the poachers, and everything to do with game wardens and ranchers being murdered by poachers while corrupt government officials look the other way. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controlled-rhino-dehorning/616300/12 "2012-03-20T19:23:12Z")
> [@Acid\_Lamp](#): > > Probably. It would have to be done in a manner that undercuts the poachers though. If you don’t then it will continue to be a lucrative industry. I also wonder if it wouldn’t be possible to flood the market with fake rhino horn. It’s not like it will be any less potent. and once its powdered how easy would it be to tell the difference? Back to the OP I don’t see much argument against rangers doing this. Anyone want to take the contrary side? ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controlled-rhino-dehorning/616300/13 "2012-03-20T19:37:45Z")
Well of course you want to control your rhino while you’re dehorning it, I’d imagine they get quite perturbed. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controlled-rhino-dehorning/616300/14 "2012-03-20T19:46:34Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > Back to the OP I don’t see much argument against rangers doing this. Anyone want to take the contrary side? I understand the reasoning and I agree it’s better than having the animals murdered or left to die of infections, but I’d prefer to see them work to change the equation and make poaching less viable instead of doing the poachers’ jobs for them. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controlled-rhino-dehorning/616300/15 "2012-03-20T20:03:06Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I understand the reasoning and I agree it’s better than having the animals murdered or left to die of infections, but I’d prefer to see them work to change the equation and make poaching less viable instead of doing the poachers’ jobs for them. This I agree with-it does smack of a “burning the village in order to save it” mentality. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controlled-rhino-dehorning/616300/16 "2012-03-20T20:11:33Z")
I think what we need to do is start spreading a rumor that the pituitary gland of Chinese herbalists can be used to make a powerful aphrodisiac. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controlled-rhino-dehorning/616300/17 "2012-03-20T21:50:15Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I understand the reasoning and I agree it’s better than having the animals murdered or left to die of infections, but I’d prefer to see them work to change the equation and make poaching less viable instead of doing the poachers’ jobs for them. If we attempt to make poaching less viable, poachers will start killing game wardens, and apparently, we have no effective response for that. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controlled-rhino-dehorning/616300/18 "2012-03-20T21:54:19Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > If we attempt to make poaching less viable, poachers will start killing game wardens, and apparently, we have no effective response for that. Perhaps we could take the guns poachers use on the rhinos and somehow reconfigure them so they work on people. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controlled-rhino-dehorning/616300/19 "2012-03-20T22:09:57Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > Perhaps we could take the guns poachers use on the rhinos and somehow reconfigure them so they work on people. I have been told the respective governments are too corrupt to declare open season on poachers. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controlled-rhino-dehorning/616300/20 "2012-03-20T22:22:38Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself] I have been told the respective governments are too corrupt to declare open season on poachers. [/QUOTE] Pretty much. It’s the same dynamic in play for folks who raid archeological sites to swipe the treasure, destroying all of the data in the process. There is a huge market for both products, and what you get is poor folks in those countries willing to do the dirty work, and officials who are willing to look the other way because of the bribes from the folks who really profit by the illegal trade. It’s a Catch-22 situation, and there are no easy, silver bullet type solutions to this problem. In order to REALLY stop it you have to attack the market that feeds it…and there is no real, viable way to do that. You can’t stop people wanting illegal drugs. You can’t stop folks wanting illegal artifacts. And you can’t stop people who want rhino horn to supposedly make their dicks hard or do some other magical horseshit. Hell, you can’t even point solely at the fact that these are 3rd world nations with systemic corruption…the archeological thing happens even in the US and the UK (from what I’ve seen, it actually is pretty common in the UK actually…they even have a term for it, something like ‘nighthawks’ IIRC), and the only reason why rhinos aren’t slaughtered everywhere for their horns is that they are worth more to zoos and such, on the hoof so to speak, in countries that don’t have rhinos wandering about naturally than their horns are worth…otherwise it would probably happen here too. That’s the trouble when you have illicit trade in some commodity that has a large appeal (as rhino horn does in Asia especially)…someone is going to try and cash in, especially in places where rules are more ‘guidelines’ cast in sand than actual hard rules cast in stone. -XT [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/controlled-rhino-dehorning/616300.md?page=2)