WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A worldwide ban on the trade in rhino horns has been ineffective and a regulated market should be set up as part of a last-ditch attempt to save the endangered animals from extinction, four leading environmental scientists say.
"Rhino horn is now worth more than gold," the scientists wrote in the journal Science on Thursday, mainly because of soaring demand in Asia for an ingredient that is used in Chinese medicines.
The Western Black Rhinoceros was declared extinct in 2011, and there are only 5,000 Black Rhinos and 20,000 White Rhinos left, the vast majority of which are in South Africa and Namibia, the researchers said.