Why is Rhino horn in such great demand?
Yemen, Middle East: Rhino horn is very sacred and as much part of Yemen’s religious culture today as it was centuries ago. It is a desired commodity amongst young Muslim men. At the age of 12, Yemen boys are presented with a curved dagger called Jambiya, a symbol of a boy’s manhood and devotion to his religion. The dagger’s handle is made from Rhino horn covered with jewels. Despite the 1982 import ban against Rhino horn it still finds its way into Yemen. China and South East Asia: Rhino horn has a tragic history in the Chinese culture, dating as far back as the 7th century AD. It was made into almost anything, from buttons and hair pins to ceremonial cups. Drinking from these cups was believed to bring good fortune. The most well-known use for Rhino horn is in traditional Chinese Medicine. It is usually ground and boiled or made into a paste, then used as a treatment for gout, rheumatism, fever, hallucinations, vomiting, over dosage of poisonous drugs, snake bite and even devil posses
