During the past century, the rhinos of Africa and Asia have been pushed out of their habitats and hunted nearly to extinction for their horns, which are believed — erroneously — to possess healing properties.
In Zimbabwe, the number of endangered rhinos killed by poachers has increased dramatically over the last few years. Since 2000, an estimated 72 black rhinos have been shot in the southeastern part of the country. Compare that figure to the years between 1993 and 2000, when not one black rhino was poached in the area. Why the sudden increase?
