Published in Science · View the paper (DOI)
A new study found that dehorning rhinos proactively reduced poaching activity by 78% across 11 Greater Kruger African reserves from 2017 to 2023. In contrast, law enforcement interventions had no statistical effect on poaching. Dehorning removed the incentive for poachers and was cost-effective, with only a 1.2% of the budget spent.
Coverage from 2 institutions
- Dehorning of rhinos reduced poaching by 78% in Greater Kruger African reserves from 2017 to 2023 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) · Jun 5, 2025 · first to report
- Study finds dehorning of rhinos drastically reduces poaching University of Oxford · Jun 5, 2025