Poachers have killed a record number of rhinos in South Africa
Since January 1, 1,020 rhinos have been killed for their horns by poachers in South Africa. Kruger National Park has been hit the hardest, with 672 rhinos slaughtered.
The number of poached rhinos is up from 333 in 2010 and 668 in 2012, Bloomberg reports. In China and Vietnam, there is a belief that rhino horns can cure cancer and diseases, and in Asia the horns are being sold for $65,000 to $95,000 a kilogram ($30,000 to $44,000 a pound).
South Africa is attempting to stop this brutal practice, and has set up a protection zone inside of Kruger Park. Rhinos are also moved to different areas when they are threatened. Officials have captured 344 alleged poachers, couriers, and poaching syndicate members so far this year, up from 343 in 2013.
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Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
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