Global Wildlife

Rhinoceros Poaching and Horn Trade

All five rhinoceros species are threatened by poaching for their horns, used in traditional medicine and as status symbols, with South African white rhino populations hit hardest.

Key Facts

Over 9,000 rhinos were poached in South Africa alone between 2007 and 2020
White rhino populations have partially recovered but black rhino remains critically endangered
Rhino horn is composed of keratin - the same protein as human fingernails
Vietnam and China are major end markets driving demand
Anti-poaching operations are increasingly militarised with significant human cost

Welfare Considerations

Rhino poaching causes terrible suffering - animals are often dehorned alive and left to die. The militarisation of anti-poaching creates its own welfare concerns. Demand reduction in Asian markets is ultimately more sustainable than enforcement alone.

What You Can Do

Never purchase rhino horn products and advocate for stricter trade controls
Support WWF and Save the Rhino conservation programmes
Advocate for culturally sensitive demand reduction campaigns in key consumer countries