Removing rhino horns cuts poaching by 78%, study finds
A comprehensive study published today in the journal Science has found that removing rhino horns reduces poaching by 78 percent, providing the first robust evidence that the controversial practice can help save one of Africa’s most endangered species. The research, spanning seven years across 11 reserves in South Africa’s Greater Kruger region, offers critical data for conservationists grappling with sustained pressure from criminal syndicates. The findings come as South Africa reported 103 rhinos killed in the first quarter of 2025, underscoring the persistent threat facing the roughly 17,500 white rhinos and 6,500 black rhinos remaining worldwide. Study Provides Long-Awaited Evidence Dr. Tim Kuiper of Nelson Mandela University, who led the research as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Cape Town, analyzed data from reserves that collectively house about 25 percent of Africa’s rhino population. Between 2017 and 2023, researchers documented 1,985 rhino deaths from poaching while tracking the dehorning of 2,284 animals across eight reserves. “Dehorning rhinos to reduce incentives for poaching was found to achieve a 78% reduction in poaching using just 1.2% of the overall rhino protection budget,” Kuiper said. The study compared reserves that dehorned their rhinos against those that maintained traditional security measures, which cost more than $74 million but showed less measurable impact. Shifting Criminal Networks The research arrives amid evolving poaching patterns across South Africa. While KwaZulu-Natal saw dramatic decreases from 232 rhinos killed in 2024 to just 16 in the first quarter of 2025, South African National Parks experienced a sharp rise to 65 deaths compared to 88 for all of 2024. “Organized criminal syndicates adapt their targets in response to a number of factors, including changing law enforcement efforts,” according to Save the Rhino International. The networks operate across borders and shift locations based on perceived vulnerabilities. Complex Intervention Dehorning operations, which require repetition every 12 to 24 months as horns regrow, remain controversial. Research published in 2023 found that dehorned rhinos reduce their home ranges by up to 45 percent and interact less with other rhinos. “A hornless rhino is better than a dead rhino,” said a veterinarian quoted by conservation groups. Yet some dehorned rhinos continue to be killed for remaining stumps or out of spite. Dr. Jo Shaw, CEO of Save the Rhino International and study co-author, emphasized that “dehorning rhinos is not a standalone solution to keep rhinos safe. However, as additional tool, it can make a difference”.
