Poaching and the rhino horn – Why animals have to die for superstition

A kilogram of rhino horn is worth more than gold on the black market. Animals are brutally hunted, mutilated, and left to die for it – all because of a myth. Because in the end, the horn is nothing more than keratin , the same substance our fingernails are made of. No magic, no healing properties. Just superstition and greed.

Why the horn is so coveted

Rhino horn has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries – allegedly against fever, poisoning, or even cancer. This is not scientifically proven : the horn has no proven medical benefit .

Today, demand has shifted: especially in Vietnam and China, it is considered a status symbol . It is pulverized and mixed into drinks or given as an expensive prestige object. In a world where power and wealth are displayed, animals pay with their lives.

The brutal reality of poaching

• The animals are often killed with gunshots or tranquilizer darts.
• Poachers saw off the horns – often while the animals are still alive.
• The mutilated rhinos bleed to death or die a painful death.

The black market for rhino horn is controlled by international syndicates . The illegal trade is worth billions and can even finance armed conflicts. Despite armed rangers and protected areas, more animals die every year. As long as demand remains high, poaching will continue.

Chemical truth: The horn is worthless

Rhino horn consists of keratin – like fingernails and hair. It contains no active ingredient and has no proven medicinal properties. Animals die for something that is biologically trivial.

Consequences for species

• The northern white rhinoceros is virtually extinct – only two females remain, unable to reproduce.
• Other rhinoceros species are also on the Red List and continue to lose animals due to poaching.
• Every animal that disappears leaves a gap in the ecosystem – with incalculable chain reactions.

Extinct means forever – when a species disappears, it does not come back.

Fight against poaching

• Protected areas & rangers : 24/7 patrols to protect rhinos.
• International agreements (CITES) : Trade in horn is prohibited.
• Science : Reproductive techniques are being tested to support remaining populations.
• Education : Campaigns in consumer countries debunk myths and reduce demand.

What we can learn from this

Poaching demonstrates how destructive artificial status and false traditions can be. Animals die because prestige seems more important than life. This logic is everywhere: in poaching, factory farming – and also in fast fashion . Whenever we commodify life, living beings pay the price.

Natura Umbra – Clothing as an attitude

Natura Umbra stands for streetwear that takes a stand. Our "Extinct Means Forever" shirt serves as a reminder that extinction is final – and that silence is not an option.

• 100% organic cotton
• Vegan & fairly produced
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Conclusion

Rhinos die for superstition and prestige. They pay with their lives for horns made of the same material as fingernails. Poaching is a crime against nature. "Extinct means forever" is not a slogan, but a warning. The choice is ours: look away – or take a stand.