13/08/2013
There once was a time that the African elephant roamed most of the African Continent. It was estimated that 7-10 million elephants existed in the 1930’s. Today that number is a shocking 300,000 individuals and still declining at a rapid pace. Demand for ivory, combined with habitat loss from human settlement, has led to a dramatic decline in elephant populations.
At the beginning of the 20th century there were about 500,000 rhinos across Africa and Asia. By 1970 there were approximately 70,000 and today the population is less than 29,000 creatures. In South Africa alone bloodlust for rhino horn is sickening: In 2010, 333 rhinos were slaughtered; in 2011, 448 animals were poached and last year (2012) 668 animals were killed. This year SA lost more than 550 rhinos already to poaching. Rhino horn is used in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) for centuries; the belief is that Rhino horn cures fevers and chills. It doesn't. Rhino horn consists of Keratin. The same substance as human hair and nails. In an effort to educate the public about the alleged curative properties of rhino horn, several scientific studies have been commissioned. Testing was carried out in 1983 by researchers at Hoffmann-LaRoche, and followed up 25 years later with a study at the Zoological Society of London. Both studies arrived at the same conclusion: Rhino horn contains no medical properties.
