Elle MacPherson Promotes the Use of Illegal Powder of Endangered Rhino Horn
July 7th, 2010 - 1:22 am ICT by Angela Kaye MasonJuly 6 (THAINDIAN NEWS) Although there have been several studies which deny that the horn of a rhino has any healthy uses, Elle MacPherson, who is a supermodel and entrepreneur told ‘The Times Online’ that she ingests powdered rhino horn which “tastes like powdered bone and fungus in a capsule.”
Consuming rhino horn, however, supplies financial benefits to illegal poachers which are quickly driving many subspecies of the animal into extinction. There are currently four subspecies of rhino which are said to be in danger of becoming extinct, and three of those are in the Critically Endangered Species List. As of now there are under 50 grown Java rhino in the entire world, and under 250 Sumatran rhinos.
Because of the demand from people such as MacPherson whose habits fund the poachers, the illegal act hit a 15 year high last season. The animals are usually shot or tranquilized before the horn is removed with saws, and the animal is often left to bleed to death slowly afterwards. Poaching does not only kill animals, however, last month a ranger was kidnapped and murdered by gunshots in the stomach by poachers.
The pockets of these poachers are lined with money from those who think that the powdered rhino horn works as an aphrodisiac, as well as lowers fever and detects poisons. Powdered rhino horn such as what MacPherson sues costs $60,000 per kilo.
In a conversation between ‘Witter’ from the ‘Times of London’, MacPherson brags about her habit. “Witter: You’re said to be a great fan of Chinese medicine. What does powdered rhino horn taste like?
E MacP: A little bit like crushed bone and fungus in a capsule. Does the job though.
Witter: How do you know that it works? A lot of people say Chinese medicine is quackery.
E MacP: Put it this way, works for me.”
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- Three rhinos found dead in Kenyan national park - Apr 15, 2012
- Wildlife Officials Call For Urgent Action as Poachers Kill Park's Last Female Rhino - Jul 20, 2010
- Elle Macpherson regrets promoting use of illegal rhino horn remedy - Jul 07, 2010
- South African game park officials arrested for rhino poaching - Mar 01, 2012
- South African rhino's horns to be poisoned to stop poaching - Aug 01, 2010
- One-horned rhino killed in Kaziranga park - Oct 28, 2010
- Rhino census to be held in Assam from March 15 - Feb 28, 2012
- Javan rhino is extinct in Vietnam - Oct 25, 2011
- Two poachers shot dead in Kaziranga - Dec 13, 2010
- Four rhino poachers killed in gunfight in Kaziranga - May 21, 2010
- Assam wildlife group protests removal of rhino's horn - Mar 25, 2012
- Now dogs to the rescue of Kaziranga rhinos - Jan 22, 2012
Tags: chinese medicine, elle macpherson, endangered rhino, entire world, extinction, fungus, gunshots, illegal act, macp, poachers, poisons, quackery, rhino, rhino horn, rhinos, saws, subspecies, sumatran rhinos, supermodel, times of london