Quick Answer: How can you tell a real rhino horn?

How much is a rhinos horn worth?

The price for raw rhino horn ranges from USD 3,604 to USD 17,000 per kilo, calculated to equate to an overall average of USD 8,683 per kilo.

Can I sell a rhino horn?

Trade in rhino horn is illegal in most countries, but the black market value of one kilogram is said to be USD 100,000—more than the price of platinum. The astronomical price of rhino horn is driven by demand in Asia that has fuelled the current epidemic of rhino poaching in South Africa.

What is so valuable about a rhino horn?

Although there is no scientific proof of its medical value, rhino horn remains highly prized in traditional Asian medicine, where it is ground into a fine powder as treatment for a variety of illnesses such as nosebleeds and fevers.

Are rhino horns real horns?

The scientists say the “horn” of a rhino is not like the horn of a cow, but is formed from tufts of tightly packed hair that are glued together by secretions from the animal.

How much is a rhino horn worth in South Africa?

Rhino horn is valued at $60,000 per kilogram on the black market – more than its weight in gold.

How much does a rhino horn sell for on the black market?

In the black market, rhino horn prices can fetch up to US$400,000 per kg for Asian rhino horns and US$20,000 per kg for African rhino horns.

Who buys rhino horns?

Rhino poaching is being driven by the demand for rhino horn in Asian countries, particularly China and Viet Nam. Rhino horn is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine, but increasingly common is its use as a status symbol to display success and wealth.

Are rhino horns legal?

The international trade in rhino horn, regulated by the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES), has been banned since 1977.

Are rhino horns ivory?

Are rhino horns made of ivory? No, rhino horns are made of keratin—the same substance found in human hair and nails. Although they are not ivory, rhinos are still poached for their horns.

Can a rhino live without its horn?

And, once hornless, rhinos can’t use it for everyday activities, such as defending their territories, guiding calves and digging for water. But it’s still a useful deterrent that could save rhino lives.

Why do Chinese eat rhino horn?

Rhino horn is used as an ingredient in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) pharmacotherapy (herbal decoctions for treating illness or promote health by restoring holistic balance), mainly to dispel heat, detoxify and cool the blood, and treat febrile diseases (Cheung et al., 2018a, 2020a).

How much are white rhino horns worth?

The World Animal Foundation said that on average, a rhino horn is worth $60,000 per pound in Asia. In other words, a rhino’s horn is more valuable than gold, diamonds and cocaine.

How much does a rhino horn weigh?

Horns from both black and white rhino species are priced the same. To calculate the kilo price, a black rhino’s average horn weight is 1.5kg (as the average black rhino has two horns weighing 3kg). A white rhino’s average horn weight is 2.5kg (the average white rhino has two horns weighing 5kg).

What are rhino horns used for on the black market?

Scientists are planning to flood the black market with realistic fake rhino horns made from horse hair in an attempt to reduce illegal poaching. Rhino horn is in demand for a range of uses, from traditional Chinese medicine to ornamental carvings, and the illegal international trade is thriving.

Is a rhino horn hair?

The horn of the rhinoceros is not a horn in the traditional sense like the horn of a cow or the nail of a hoof, though it does share some material properties. The rhino’s horn is actually a tuft of hair that grows, tightly packed and glued together by exudates from sebaceous glands, on the nose of the animal.