This picture is an example of photojournalism and the deep emotional impact a simple picture can have on a sympathetic audience. If you are a zoologist at heart witnessing the habitat destruction of magnificent animals like the elephant and rhinoceros is sickening. To see them killed for body parts that fetch big money for poachers and international traders in the Far East and elsewhere is heartbreaking.
Troubling information indicates China is already farming rhinos for horn.
A disturbing proposal from China reveals that “artificial propagation” of rhinos is under way, and the use of rhino horn as an “important raw material” in traditional Chinese medicine is being promoted and encouraged. Is China preparing for an attempt to have the ban on rhino horn trade lifted?
State-funded proposal for use of rhino horn in TCM
A proposal from the China Institute of Science and Technology Research, Beijing, entitled Proposal for Protection of the Rhinoceros and the Sustainable Use of Rhinoceros Horn – funded by the State Soft Sciences Project, Development for Traditional Chinese Medicine Research – contains troubling information indicating that China is already farming rhinos in order to use rhino horn in traditional Chinese medicine.
And, it is clear that “horn harvesting” experiments are already being conducted.
Rhino horn: Science vs. myth
Overwhelming scientific evidence has proven that rhino horn actually contains no medicinal properties whatsoever, as demonstrated in this video of Dr. Raj Amin at the Zoological Society of London.
Despite science, the use of rhino horn in traditional Chinese medicine is still encouraged in China.
The utilization value of rhinoceros horn is extremely high; as an emergency medicine and an important raw material in the Traditional Chinese Medicine industry.
And what’s driving rhino poaching? The perpetuation of medicinal
myths about rhino horn and the resulting demand for rhino horn
“remedies”.
The rhinoceros horn is a product in extremely high demand in Chinese herbal medicine markets in Asia, and prices are high, with retail prices as high as several thousand U.S. dollars per horn; in areas of the Far East, the value of a 1kg rhinoceros horn is as high as 60,000 U.S. dollars.These lucrative rewards are keeping rhino poaching syndicates motivated and profitable.
What about wildlife groups in China?
Are wildlife groups in China are aware of the rhino farm and the push for rhino horn products?
Speaking out against a government-supported initiative can result in “unpleasant consequences” related to one’s job... squelching dissident voices.
In addition, Chinese wildlife protection laws are famously
complicated, often subjective, and frequently suffer from ineffective
implementation.
The trouble with endangered species ‘farming’
For example, China began “farming” tigers under the guise of “sustainable use” and “wildlife conservation”, and has continually attempted to have the ban on trade in tiger products lifted.
If you want to see an example of how rhinos will be affected by China’s plan to farm rhinos for horn, take a look at the following video about China’s tiger farms (warning: extremely graphic images):
Farming endangered species creates a market for poachers to sell their illegal wares and ensures that the market for endangered species products remains profitable.
Legalizing any trade in endangered or threatened species will push these animals even closer to extinction because there is no way to tell “legal” products from “illegal” products, making it easy for poachers and smugglers to integrate their slaughter into the marketplace.
By “farming” rhinos, China is making it clear there are no intentions to curb its role in driving the demand for rhino horn – and ensuring that rhino poaching syndicates stay in business.
And if its “tiger farms” are any indication, then China could eventually pursue a lifting of the ban on trade in rhino horn products.
Source: Yanyan, D., Qian, J. (2008). Proposal for Protection of the Rhinoceros and the Sustainable Use of Rhinoceros Horn. State Soft Sciences Project, Development Strategy for Traditional Chinese Medicine Research
Image: Wikimedia Commons
Ms. R C-Larson has a great site and if you are interested in the grisly videos, they can be viewed on her site.
http://www.rhinoconservation.org/2010/07/20/revealed-location-of-chinas-rhino-farm-and-horn-harvesting-experiments/
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