http://www.rhinoconservation.org/2011/04/15/demand-for-illegal-rhino-horn-claims-another-life-calf-orphaned-warning-extremely-graphic-images/

Demand for Illegal Rhino Horn Claims Another Life; Calf Orphaned

[Warning: Extremely Graphic Images]

A mother rhino’s life cut short by greed and ignorance.

In a horrifying act of brutality, rhino poachers reportedly used dogs to chase a terrified female rhino over a cliff, where she fell to her death. The thugs then proceeded to saw off her horns.

Their motivation? Black market riches derived from the continued use of illegal rhino horn in traditional Chinese medicine.

After making the treacherous climb down the cliff, the young calf nudged its mother and then lay down beside her.
 

Although the exact location of this despicable crime has not yet been released to the public at time of this writing, it did occur in South Africa.

More than 80 of the country’s iconic rhinos have been slaughtered for their horns since the beginning of the year; some sources believe the number could be closer to 100.

No medical properties in rhino horn

At the root of this killing spree is the continued use of rhino horn in traditional Chinese medicine, which is still sought after in both China and Vietnam.

However, rhino horn has been rigorously analyzed and actually contains no medical properties whatsoever. (Read the entire article at Busting the Rhino Horn Myth with Science.)

Fueling the demand for rhino horn

While the conservation community and wildlife trade experts strive to educate rhino horn consumers and dampen the demand, there are others with no interest in educating the public.

The opposition instead prefers to fuel the demand, in order to profit from stockpiled rhino horn – and the farming of rhinos for their horns – hoping to cash in on the myths that have plagued this species for centuries. (Rhino horn can fetch up to USD $40,000 per kilogram in Vietnam and up to USD $60,000 per kilogram in China.)

Fortunately, the notion of legalized trade in rhino horn has apparently failed to win the support of WWF South Africa’s CEO, Morné du Plessis.

Dr. du Plessis said via South Africa’s The Daily Maverick that the arrests of game farmers in the recent high-profile rhino horn syndicate case indicate that legalized rhino horn trade is likely to serve as another laundering vehicle for illegal rhino horn.

Source: Information regarding this incident and accompanying photos provided by Anti-Poaching Intelligence Group of Southern Africa, courtesy of Protrack Anti-Poaching Unit.