Record 1,215 rhino poached in S.Africa in 2014
Pretoria (AFP) - The slaughter of rhinos in South Africa hit a new record in 2014, with poachers killing 1,215 of the iconic savannah animals as Asian-led demand for their horn showed no sign of abating, authorities said Thursday.
The grim new tally, which was announced by Minister of Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa, represents a 21 percent jump on the 1,004 rhino poached in 2013.
"The figure remains worryingly high," Molewa said.
The poaching of one of Africa's "Big Five" animals, is driven by strong demand for their horns in countries such as Vietnam, where they are prized for their purported medicinal properties.
The claims, including that powdered horn can cure cancer, are scientifically untrue but have helped drive up prices to about a thousand dollars (790 euros) for a kilogramme(2.2 pounds) of a horn.
Global wildlife watchdog Traffic said the death toll -- which translates to roughly three killings a day -- have shown that "2014 was the worst on record for rhino poaching". ...
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