Scientists create synthetic rhino horn to combat poaching

Scientists from Oxford and Fudan University in China have invented a synthetic rhino horn that could be used to flood the market. The horn is made from horse hair and is not expensive to create.

The illegal rhino horn trade has been an ongoing crisis in Africa, as demand for the keratin-based horn is rampant across Asia.

Demand for the horn, which has zero medicinal properties, is blamed for the demise of this precious species.

The Oxford team created the synthetic horn to ‘confuse the trade,’ reports BBC News. 

‘It appears from our investigation that it is rather easy as well as cheap to make a bio-inspired horn-like material that mimics the rhino’s extravagantly expensive tuft of nose hair,’ University of Oxford Department of Zoology professor Fritz Vollrath said to BBC News.

The research report has been published and can be found here.

Save the Rhino International has taken a stance on the creation of synthetic horns and stated:

‘We are opposed to the development, marketing and sale of synthetic rhino horn.’

‘Selling synthetic horn does not reduce the demand for rhino horn or dispel the myths around rhino horn and could indeed lead to more poaching because it increases demand for “the real thing.”’

‘More than 90% of “rhino horns” in circulation are fake (mostly carved from buffalo horn or wood), but poaching rates continue to rise annually.’

‘Synthetic horn could give credence to the notion that rhino horn has medicinal value, which is not supported by science.’

‘Users buy from trusted sources and value “the real thing.”’

‘The availability of legal synthetic horn could normalise or remove the stigma from buying illegal real horn.’

While these efforts to protect the rhino are exemplary, Save the Rhino International says that the focus ‘should be on anti-poaching measures and attempts to reduce consumer demand,’ according to BBC News.

Image: Unsplash

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