Rhino Dehorning

Man and Nature

Processing and pondering about yesterday’s eventful effort, I can’t help the thought that dehorning somehow seemed to show me what my and my kids relationship with Nature might boil down to in the future.

First of all, the Team of the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism that was out on Kuzikus the last two days could not have been better! They did a tremendous job and in my eyes all of them are the true unsung conservation heroes!

Nevertheless, in all the pragmatism, logic and the enhanced technology applied in the name of conservation, there is a growing concern, an eminent urge in me to resuscitate a debate about the philosophy of conservation. And I do not mean to argue with the world or to point fingers but to question myself (and debating with my brother at a second stage…), pushing ourselves, as we are directly involved, to challenge the status quo.

As the rhino is being poached only for its horn, cutting off its horn in advance will protect it – a logical and pragmatic approach. But is this practise initially introduced to be only a transition in order to buy time slowly making its way to establish itself as the new normal? At what stage does my interference actually start to harm or destroy the very thing I actually want to conserve – wilderness.

A black rhino, arguably among the wildest of beasts, once dehorned, notably loses its aura of wilderness in the same way as even the remotest of places lose their sense of solitude by noise caused by an airplane flying above. Is it a ludicrous luxury to even think these thoughts? As I am fully aware that for now, anything, no matter how pragmatic, has to be done to save these rhinos from being poached for their horn! Even if dehorning might develop into an industry of its own, where rhinos might establish themselves as useful animals, just like livestock in the field. Where does that leave wilderness??

Join us on Kuzikus pushing boundaries in modern conservation.