Own Correspondent
22nd June 2020
Faced with an escalation in rhino poaching authorities in Botswana have resorted to dehorning white and black rhino population in the Okavango Delta area with 58 animals reported poached as of 3 June 2020.
Several other rhino range states such as Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe in southern Africa have faced similar challenges. Rhino horns are popular in far East Asia where demand has grown over the last 10 years.
Dr. Cyril Taolo the acting Director of the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, said, “There is no legal international trade in rhino horn and all rhinos in Botswana are on CITES Appendix I. All rhino horn is surrendered to the state for safe keeping.”
Both white rhino and black rhinos have been severely affected by poaching necessitating impactful interventions to arrest the situation. These measures include relocation of highly endangered black rhinos, intensification of surveillance and monitoring and dehorning of all rhinos.
Dehorning entails removal of most of the rhino horn under the guidance of experienced veterinarians. The process is painless and is done as humanely and quickly as possible to limit stress on the animals.
The animals are then monitored to ensure that they fully recover and go about their normal activities.
“Dehorning does not significantly impact the behaviour of rhinos although predation may be a challenge for black rhino calves but in the current situation the advantages of dehorning far outweigh the calf predation risk,” said Taolo.
He said, “It takes up to 2 years for the rhino horn to grow back allowing other measures to be implemented while also reducing the incentive for poachers to seek out rhinos. Experience elsewhere in the southern African region has demonstrated that de-horning is a deterrent to poaching when implemented alongside other measures to protect rhinos.”
