A recent study published in the journal Science has found that dehorning rhinoceroses can be a powerful strategy in reducing poaching rates.
As rhino populations continue to plummet due to high demand for their horns—particularly in illegal markets—removing the primary incentive for poachers may be key to preserving the species.
Despite spending nearly $74 million between 2017 and 2023 on anti-poaching efforts across 11 reserves in southern Africa—including surveillance, tracking dogs, patrols, and enforcement—the study recorded 1,985 rhino deaths over the same period. This highlights the limited impact of traditional methods in the face of persistent demand.
In contrast, the dehorning of 2,284 rhinos across eight reserves led to a dramatic 78% drop in poaching incidents, all while using just 1.2% of the total protection budget. “Dehorning rhinos to reduce incentives for poaching was found to achieve a 78% reduction in poaching using just 1.2% of the overall rhino protection budget,” said Dr. Tim Kuiper of Nelson Mandela University, one of the study’s lead authors.
Rhino horn, falsely believed to have medicinal value in some cultures, continues to drive poaching despite no scientific evidence supporting such claims.
This demand has devastated rhino populations—particularly in South Africa’s Greater Kruger region, where numbers dropped from more than 10,000 in 2010 to about 2,600 by 2023.
Dr. Kuiper further reflected on the strategy, stating, “We might need to rethink our goals. Do we just want to arrest poachers? It doesn't appear to be making a massive difference to reducing rhino poaching.”
As for the procedure itself, dehorning is conducted under sedation, with additional precautions like blindfolds and earplugs to minimise stress. The process is painless, and the horns naturally regrow over time.
“The headline result is that dehorning stood out for its effectiveness. We are cautious to say that the other interventions are not working. They worked when measured by whether they were detecting poachers. But detecting and arresting a load of poachers doesn't necessarily bend the curve on rhino poaching,” Dr. Kuiper noted.