Rhino horns are sought after by poachers primarily due to perceived medicinal benefits and their symbolic value. This illegal demand drives the poaching crisis, pushing rhinoceros populations closer to extinction.
Traditional Medicinal Beliefs
Rhino horn has been used in various traditional medicine systems across Asia for centuries, notably in China and Vietnam. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) texts, some dating back over 2,000 years, describe rhino horn as a treatment for ailments such as fever, rheumatism, and gout. It was also historically believed to treat snakebites, hallucinations, typhoid, headaches, and food poisoning. The horn is typically shaved or ground into a powder and dissolved in boiling water for consumption.
Despite these long-held beliefs, there is no scientific evidence supporting the medicinal efficacy of rhino horn. Research indicates that the concentration of any potentially beneficial minerals in rhino horn is too low to provide health benefits, and some samples may even contain toxic elements like arsenic. The Chinese government banned the use of rhino horn in TCM in 1993, removing it from official pharmacopeia. However, demand persists, partly due to a more recent, unfounded rumor that rhino horn can cure cancer, which has contributed to a surge in poaching.
Symbolic and Status Uses
Beyond traditional medicinal claims, rhino horn serves as a significant symbol of wealth and status, particularly in countries like Vietnam and China. Its possession can signify success and affluence, often flaunted as an indicator of high social standing. Rhino horn is frequently purchased as a luxury item, comparable to designer goods, and is sometimes given as an expensive gift to establish or strengthen business relationships.
The use of rhino horn as a status symbol has seen a surge in demand, especially among growing affluent communities. While the belief that it can cure hangovers is sometimes cited, this often ties into a broader perception of its detoxifying properties following excessive consumption of alcohol and rich food. Rhino horn is also carved into decorative items such as ceremonial cups, buttons, belt buckles, and dagger handles, as seen historically in China and Yemen. This ornamental use, alongside its perceived health benefits, fuels the illegal trade.
The Horn’s True Composition
Rhino horn is composed primarily of keratin, the same protein that forms human hair and fingernails. Unlike the horns of most other animals, which have a bony core, rhino horn is unique because it consists entirely of keratin. While often mistakenly thought to be compressed hair, it grows in layers from specialized skin cells.
The horn also contains mineral deposits of calcium and melanin, particularly in its core. Calcium contributes to the horn’s strength, and melanin helps protect it from UV degradation.