“We have lost the ancient wisdom that considers each decision on how it will affect future generations. We have to get back to thinking in a different way, beyond the easy political wins.”
- Dr Jane Goodall
As mammals all of us have some combination of a scleroprotein, commonly known as keratin. It is a firm, often tough compound found in fingernails and hair. You can think of all nail salons you pass as grooming for your keratin.
In animals you can find keratin as well. It is what makes claws, hooves and horns. In the case of the Rhinoceros, it is what makes it’s horn. In a real sense the horn is a fingernail on a grand scale.
As we have participated in Game Drives we have had the privilege of seeing several White Rhinos. The name comes from from the Afrikaans word “Wiet” which means wide muzzle. The species is distinguished by it’s wide mouth. Over the years, as the British colonized South Africa, and made everyone drive on the wrong side of the road, they misunderstood the local word and called it the ‘White Rhino’. The name stuck. Black Rhino’s have a pointed, almost prehensile lip which gives the species it’s distinction. Neither name has anything to do with it’s color.
An average Rhino can stand as much as six feet at the shoulder and males can weigh as much as 5,000 pounds. They are massive and, to see in the wild, truly epic. When they trot they have a lighter than air quality that defies the physics of their mass. One can imagine that if you can conquer such a monster, some if it’s strength and power will transfer magically to you. It is not true.
Several countries, mostly in China and Southeast Asia, believe the Rhino Horn has curative powers. It will fix everything from erectile dysfunction to cancer.
It is a fingernail. A big fingernail.
As such they are willing to pay a lot of money for the horns despite the loss of the animals.
It is not sustainable. Last year, the last Northern White Rhino (see below) died. That species was destroyed so someone in the world can treat their impotence.
There are around 15-30 thousand White Rhinos left. Most of them are here in Kruger National Park. Every day 2 to 3 of them are shot and killed. Poachers travel in armed bands and will shoot the animal just for it’s horn. They leave the enormous carcass behind. They will often use drones to find the animals, which is why you do not see any drone shots from me. It is such a issue here that the Rhinos are the only animals in the park that are followed 24 hours a day by armed rangers to prevent the loss.
Despite this effort, the Rhinos continue to be murdered. The rangers have tried a new tactic. They have tranquilized the animals and cut off their horns to make them leas attractive of a target. Does your fingernail grow back when you cut it? So does a Rhino’s horn.
However, the horns are so desired that even if there is a nub is worth the risk and they will kill it. It is tragic beyond words.
Much of this violence, like many things in the world is due to poverty and greed. Why should someone in China care about an animal they will never see? What would the world be like if Rhinos no longer roamed the Savannah? Desperate people will do what they need to survive, even if it means slaughtering such animals for something that has no medicinal value at all.
None. It is fingernail clippings.
So, before you feel good about yourself and think, “How can people be so deceived to take something that does them no good at all?” We are not much better. There is a multibillion dollar industry in the United States trying to sell you products that have no scientific value at all. Daily, Dr Oz (and many others) blast the airwaves with sham products and bogus claims that thousands purchase hoping for the magic. The tragedy of the Anti-Vaccination movement speaks for itself.
We all have tried fingernail clippings at one time or another.
I am not sure how to help. Supporting Wildlife charities are a start, but until the economics change it will likely continue.
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