The Rhino Horn trade is a lucrative trade, and the horns are valued heavily in parts of Asia such as China, and Vietnam. Unfortuantely, a high demand for rhino horns, and the large population of rhinos in South Africa are dwindling from poachers. Normally the preserves in which rhinos live on were protected by the equivalent in the U.S. as a park ranger. Times have changed however, and now these protectors of the rhino are having to undergo paramilitary training, and learn how to hunt the hunters. They are fighting fire with fire because the problem has become so widespread across South Africa.
2014 saw approximately 1200 rhino poaching's, and those are just the ones that we know about. The rhino population in South Africa is approximately 20,400 and a rhino horn can fetch between $1100-$5500.
Various tactics have been employed in an effort to dissuade the poachers. Rhino horns have been died, poisoned, and in some cases surgically removed (for their own protection), all to no avail. The only way now that seems viable is to find and arrest the poachers before they get to the rhinos.
These rangers used to train and learn about conservation and tourism. Now they find themselves learning how to track hunters, how to fire semi-automatic rifles, and intelligence gathering. It's really sad and pathetic the way these poachers are murdering South Africa of an iconic animal.
Source(s):
http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/22/africa/south-africa-rhino-poaching/
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