In an attempt to prevent poaching, game reserves are now injecting poison into the rhinos’ horns to scare off consumer demand. Currently, this strategy is not well known in Viet Nam and it would be helpful if there was more public awareness the risk of ingesting poisoned rhino horn. Because rhino horn consumption is associated with health/strength by all primary user groups, they will concerned about poisoned rhino horn entering the supply chain.
The users of rhino horn need to be made aware of the rhino horn poisoning strategy, particularly given that the toxins used included organophosphates. If the users ingest these toxins they become very sick with nausea and diarrhoea. These toxins can also have long-term effects on the central nervous system and on brain development. The user need to know there is a great and great risk of ingesting rhino horn that has been poisoned given how many conservancies are using this technique and in some country’s it is becoming a state sanctioned strategy.
