Controversial practice dramatically reduces rhino poaching

A sweeping new study across southern Africa has found that dehorning — the practice of pre-emptively removing animal horns — cut rhino poaching by 78% over 7 years, dramatically outperforming traditional law enforcement methods.

Dehorning involves sedating the rhino and cutting the horn off, usually with a chainsaw, and then ensuring the animal recovers properly. The horns are typically cut just above the base, where they are not sensitive, and will regrow within two to three years. The procedure costs roughly $900 (US$570) per operation.

Research, published in Science, tracked rhino poaching from 2017 to 2023 across 11 reserves in the Greater Kruger region, where 1,985 rhinos were killed despite more than US$74 million spent on enforcement measures, and more than 700 poacher arrests.

But in eight of those reserves, where 2,284 rhinos were dehorned, the picture looked starkly different, with a 78% reduction in poaching.

While controversial, dehorning strips poachers of the commodity they seek.

“Our results present a challenge to governments, funders, the private sector, and nongovernmental organisations to reassess their strategic approaches to wildlife crime in general,” writes lead author Tim Kuiper, an African biodiversity scientist from Nelson Mandela University. “Although detecting and arresting poachers is essential, strategies that focus on reducing opportunities for and rewards from poaching may be more effective.” 

The study directly compared reactive and proactive anti-poaching strategies: law enforcement tools like tracking dogs, cameras, and ranger patrols — versus dehorning, which strips poachers of their primary incentive.

While enforcement efforts are still critical, the data revealed no statistically significant effect on poaching rates from law enforcement alone.

Many anti-poaching policies rely on deterrence — increasing the chance of being caught and raising penalties. But the study notes that in practice, especially in regions marked by inequality, corruption, and weak justice systems, this approach often fails.

“Ongoing socioeconomic inequality incentivises a large pool of vulnerable and motivated people to join, or poach for, criminal syndicates even when the risks are high,” writes Kuiper.

Still, dehorning isn’t a silver bullet.

“Dehorning is not the only answer,”says Kuiper. “It’s a short-term fix, not a long-term solution. True success is when rhinos no longer need to be dehorned”.

“We need to address the wider systemic issues of international horn demand, socio-economic inequality, and corruption remains a difficult but critical priority”.

Earlier this month, Global experts gathered in Pretoria, South Africa, to participate in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora Rhinoceros Enforcement Task Force, the first meeting of this group since 2013.

Despite concerted efforts at national and international levels, poaching remains a significant threat. In the first three months of 2025, 103 rhinos were killed.

Authorities say they are caught in a frustrating cycle: clamping down in one area only for criminal networks to shift operations elsewhere.

“When one area becomes harder to target, organised crime syndicates quickly move elsewhere, damaging not only wildlife conservation efforts but exploiting and harming communities, too,” says CEO of Save the Rhino Dr Jo Shaw. “Without the dedicated efforts of rangers and local law enforcement on the ground, the situation could be so much worse – however, real change will be dependent upon a transformative approach with international investigations focused on disrupting trafficking routes and arresting higher-level players in the networks.”

On the rhino horns of a dilemma