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Originally Posted by Tim Simmons
It is a terrible state of affairs. Especially as I believe the quality is often suspect if one ignores the perceived value of the materials. I do not see why any educated person/collector would want the destruction of one of these animals today. Just for a knife handle.
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Rhino horn was greatly desired as medicine in the far east and a there was a great market in the horn for that use. The animal were being slaughtered for their horns
Education has shown that the horn has no medicinal value, but old habits are hard to break.
Some recent controversy here in South Africa over restoration of the rhinoceros. It takes a great deal of money. EcoTourism brings some money, but no where near enough. But it has been found careful selective sport hunting of a few past prime adults brings in the need money, far more than all ecotourism without endangering the restoration.
Preservation exclusionist are objecting loudly. But the scientific community is returning to the old ways of thinking saying that hunting has to be part of conservation process to controll excessive population growth when no other predators exist.