Rhino horn poaching has driven multiple species toward extinction, with dehorning, intensive protection, and demand reduction all playing roles in conservation strategies.
Dehorning rhinos is a significant intervention with genuine welfare implications. The procedure requires anesthesia, carries risks of complications, and removes a body part rhinos use for social interaction, defense, and digging. Female rhinos use horns to guide calves, and dehorned females show altered maternal behavior in some studies. The welfare trade-off involves comparing dehorning stress against the far more severe welfare harm of being killed by poachers. Individual welfare decisions must be made in the context of conservation strategy and available resources.