Between the years 2017 and 2023, poaching of rhinos decreased by 78 percent in 11 of the reserves in Kruger National Park in South Africa, shows a new study.
At the same time, the law enforcement measures against poaching had no statistical effect on the illegal hunting.
A common strategy has been to try to deter poachers with long sentences. The problem is that the method is reactive and the measures are taken only after the crime has been committed.
Removes incentives
Researchers have now compared traditional law enforcement, with for example tracking dogs and radio surveillance, with dehorning the rhinos. They conclude that if you remove the horn, you also remove the incentive for poaching.
Between 2017 and 2023, 1,985 rhinos were killed in 11 of the reserves in the southern parts of Kruger. This happened despite the fact that $74 million was spent on legal measures against poaching and more than 700 poachers were arrested.
However, dehorning, which was done on 2,284 rhinos in eight of the reserves, led to a decrease in poaching of 78 percent during the same period. The cost was also only 1.2 percent of the total budget.
Less effective
The authors, from among others Nelson Mandela University, point out that socio-economic inequality makes people join or poach for criminal groups despite the high risks. Corruption and ineffective justice systems also make traditional law enforcement methods less effective.
They also warn that poachers can still kill dehorned rhinos to get to the stump or regrown horn. There is also insufficient knowledge of what dehorning of rhinos has for effects in the long term.
