Rhino poaching on the rise

As the value of rhino horns surpasses the value of gold, conservationists are looking for ways to halt what some have called the largest African-rhino poaching crisis in decades, according to The Associated Press.

Officials from the International Union for Conservation of Nature say that poaching is increasing in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya, although it’s taking place in several other African countries, as well as in Asia.

In the past three years, organized poaching networks have killed more than 800 African rhinos, which are in high demand globally, especially in Southeast Asia, where they are used as aphrodisiacs and medicines, and to make decorative dagger handles.

Poachers use state-of-the-art weapons and technology—most of which wildlife officials cannot afford—to hunt the poor-sighted rhinos from the sky and at night. Commercial trade in rhino horns was banned in 1993.