Hanoi Connection, The Rhino Horn Mafia – a film by Karl Ammann (warning, contains graphic footage)
Despite military style protection, a rhino is being killed for its horn every 8 hours in South Africa alone – we don’t know the statistics in other counties as they don’t have the same resources for monitoring the problem.
This is happening because of the rapid growth of wealth in Asia. Rhino horn is seen as a symbol of status and prestige. The main users are high status businessmen who use it as a gift to seal deals or powdered, in a detox drink. There is nothing but ‘old wives tales’ about rhino horn having any rejuvenation properties after a night of indulgence.
Conservation efforts alone aren’t enough as there are an unlimited number of people willing to do the poaching given the poverty and unrest in in many African counties and the amount of money there is to make.
