A Czech zoo began the new practice of cutting the horns off its rhinoceros on Monday (March 20), following the killing of a rare white rhino at a French zoo by poachers.
The first rhino to lose its horn was Pamir, a white rhino male. Blindfolded and put under with anesthesia, his horn was removed in less than an hour with a chainsaw.
Zoo staff explained that horns are made of a similar material to people’s hair and nails, and losing the matter does not affect the animal’s quality of life in any way in captivity. Horns are often trimmed for health and safety reasons, and also grow back.
Poachers broke into a French zoo on March 7, shot dead a rare white rhinoceros and sawed off its horn. It is believed to be the first time in Europe that a rhino in captivity has been attacked and killed.
Despite global trade in rhino horn being banned by a U.N. convention, demand for rhino horn is strong in newly affluent Asian countries such as Vietnam, where it is prized as an ingredient in traditional medicines, and African authorities have struggled to counter rampant poaching.
A kilo (2.2 pounds) of rhino horn fetched 51,000 euros ($53,900) on the black market in 2015, the French zoo said in a statement.
Dvur Kralove Zoo is currently home to 21 rhinos, who will all have their horns removed.
(REUTERS)
