Thula Thula Private Game Reserve in KwaZulu Natal has taken new measures to thwart rhino horn hunters.
Rhino horn is treated with a special compound which renders the horn unfit for human consumption but does not harm the rhino or other wildlife.
South Africa’s Tourism Update says the horn is also injected with an indelible blue dye, which serves as a warning to any potential buyer that the horn has been treated with a substance which can cause illness when consumed by humans,
DNA sampling and microchip tracking technology are also done at the time of the infusion.
In traditional Chinese medicine, the horn is used as a treatment for various illnesses and conditions. And newly rich Vietnamese consume it after a hard night of partying.
The number of rhinos killed by poachers has hit a new annual record in South Africa, raising concerns of a downward population spiral in a country that is home to almost all of Africa’s rhinos.
As of the end of September, 704 rhinos had been killed by poachers in South Africa, exceeding the annual record of 668 set in 2012, according to data provided by the environmental affairs ministry.
