Photo: Sushil Dhaila.Poachers will kill dehorned rhinos too. This may be less profitable, but around 10 per cent of the horn will still remain sub-surface and this is enough to motivate the killers. Many poachers in Africa went on a spree of rhino killing after dehorning just out of spite. In the infamous Hwange National Park episode of rhino killings, gangs took to killing dehorned rhinos out of spite, so they did not have to waste time tracking 'less valuable' animals". And in places such as Kaziranga, where killing is largely done at night, which poacher is going to wait to see whether the rhino has a full horn or not? I would urge the authorities and the very good NGOs and scientists who I believe are very genuinely looking to do this to benefit rhinos, to reconsider. NOTHING can protect our rhinos better than three imperatives:
1. Better patrolling by supported, well-equipped, well-trained and motivated guards.
2. Banning the global trade in rhino horns.
3. Allocating a higher political priority to all wildlife protection.
More rhinos have been killed in the past three years than have died in India in the past ten years. Ask the Prime Minister's Office to get its priorities right. Sign the petition NOW! (https://secure.avaaz.org/en/petition/Stop_the_Rhino_Killers/)
Samir Sinha, former head of WWF-India's Traffic cell, writes about one of India's worst kept secrets… that the illegal wildlife trade is inextricably linked to narcotics and arms networks. (The Wildlife Crime Nexus.)
Save Assam's Rhinos (Save Assams Rhinos.)
Author: Bittu Sahgal.
