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A new study in Science reveals that dehorning rhinos significantly reduces poaching in southern African reserves. Despite millions spent on armed patrols and surveillance, poaching dropped 78% in eight reserves following dehorning efforts. While not a permanent solution, dehorning, costing just 1% of anti-poaching budgets, buys time to address underlying issues like demand in Asia and ineffective justice systems. Dehorning involves removing horns above the nerve, allowing regrowth. The study tracked 1,985 rhino deaths from 2017-2023, highlighting the effectiveness of dehorning compared to law enforcement.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.