Dehorning rhinos in Zimbabwe

Maasailand Preservation Trust CEO, Richard Bonham and three rangers from Maasailand Preservation Trust and the Kenya Wildlife Service have just returned from Zimbabwe where they went for training on how to dehorn rhinos. Dehorning rhinos is one way to diminish the economic value of the animals to poachers, and it is one method that may have to be used by MPT if the threat of rhino poaching continues to increase in the Chyulu Hills. Unfortunately dehorning does not completely stop the killing of rhino for horn, as the price is currently so high that even the remaining stump is worth a great deal of money. Research into dehorning has been found not to have major effects on the animals, and the horn grows back at a few centimeters per year. The cut horn is weighed, logged and secured in a vault.

Using a chainsaw to dehorn rhino

Rhinos are generally dehorned using a chainsaw, so their eyes are covered and ears are plugged; obviously they are darted too! It’s a stressful time for the rhino and sad thing to have to do simply to save the lives of these magnificent creatures.

The team is back into the country and we are looking forward to learning from them. Our most sincere thanks goes to Save the Rhino International and the US Fish & Wildlife Service for making this trip happen.