Zimbabwe plans to dehorn its 800 rhinos to thwart poachers who illegally killed more than five per cent of the population of the animals in neighbouring South Africa last year. South Africa has the world’s biggest population of about 20,000 rhinos and most of those are of the white variety. Zimbabwe predominantly has black rhinos, which are smaller and rarer as the World Wildlife Population estimates their global number in the wild at about 4,800. Both varieties are targeted for their horns, which some people in East Asia believe cure cancer and boost virility. Poachers have killed nine rhinos in Zimbabwe this year.

Source: National Post August 31, 2016 18:33 UTC