Rhinos in Zimbabwe killed massively because of their horns

Poachers wiping out Zimbabwe's rhinos as demand surges
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jun/09/zimbabwe-rhinos-china-horns-poaching

Poaching in Zimbabwe has increased largely, 120 rhinos have been killed for their horns in the past 15 months. Their horns feed the Chinese black market, where they are valued for their medicinal value. They are also used for daggers in the Middle East countries. Reason of the increase in poaching is an economic situation deteriorating and law and order breaking down. The poachers are now using a tranquilizer that is fired without noise and leave the unconscious animals for dead after taking the horn. This treatment makes sure the animals die from overheating, after which the animal cannot be eaten by other predators. The better news in this situation is that authorities do try to prevent all rhino’s from being killed this way. They remove the horn in a more humane way and relocated the animals to areas where they can be better protected.


Reading that there are rhinos still being killed for their horns makes me quite mad. I am an animal lover and when I read about animal cruelty, I cannot help but feel really sorry for the animals that suffer from that cruelty. There are people saying that the human race has really become a civilized race. Yes, we are civilized in some way, but the statement is not completely true as long as we allow animal cruelty to continue. Only when we, as an entire race, can take care of our planet and the animals living there, can we call ourselves really civilized. It really pains me to see that animals like the rhinos and elephants are still killed for their horns. They have no fair chance of defending themselves.