Dear Ecolog-Listers: A graduate student in one of my courses asked me the following question:
"I do have a question about wildlife conservation. As you know rhino horn poaching is a big issue. I know that rhino horn can be removed without killing the animal. [added by JASB, see video here: https://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/short-film-showcase/00000157-7b5f-da6d-a7ff-7fff1b370000 ] Why do countries with rhino populations such as South Africa or Botswana not make it into a controlled market where they safely remove the horns to sell for high prices? This way the governments can make money that they can funnel back into protecting their rhino populations, while also satisfying the rhino horn market? The horns can be safely removed and the horns like nails grow back in time.In fact, the money they make from selling the horns can even fund safe medical practices to remove the horns safely. I would think this is better for everyone even the poachers as they are ensuring the future stock of the goods they want to sell. Have you heard anything like this or can you direct me towards studies that look at this?" If you know the economic et al. reasons behind this, please email me at blayjo...@gmail.com Gratefully, Jorge Jorge A. Santiago-Blay, PhD blaypublishers.com 1. Positive experiences for authors of papers published in *LEB* http://blaypublishers.com/testimonials/ 2. Free examples of papers published in *LEB*: http://blaypublishers.com/category/previous-issues/. 3. *Guidelines for Authors* and page charges of *LEB*: http://blaypublishers.com/archives/ *.* 4. Want to subscribe to *LEB*? http://blaypublishers.com/subscriptions/ http://blayjorge.wordpress.com/ http://paleobiology.si.edu/staff/individuals/santiagoblay.cfm
