The rhinoceros horn, a jewel on the black market

The poaching of these wild animals is out of control in South Africa. Their antlers cost up to 50,000 euros per kilo in illegal trade, more than coca or gold

The rhino poaching in South Africa has increased this year to reach a new record: 443 animals killed compared to 333 the previous year, mainly due to the demand for horns in Asia.

For centuries, there is a belief in the Asian continent that rhinoceros horns have medicinal properties that can serve to cure rheumatism, gout, high fevers or even demonic possessions. In recent years they are credited with the ability to cure cancer or serve as an aphrodisiac.

South Africa hosts more than 20,000 rhinoceroses on its land, which accounts for more than 90% of these animals in Africa. Only ten years ago, the number of deaths of rhinos by poaching was 15 animals a year, but this figure began to grow dramatically from 2007, mainly by the requests of Vietnam and Thailand.

The value of a rhino horn can reach 65,000 dollars (50,220 euros) per kilogram, a price that in the black market is higher than gold or, in many cases, cocaine, although the volume of business is still less than others.

One of the main focuses of this illegal activity has been the Kruger National Park, where almost half of the deaths have occurred. This park, with a surface similar to that of Israel, houses soldiers or guerrillas who have sometimes been trained by the military of Mozambique.

'There is nothing more tragic than seeing the brutal killing of an animal for an unnecessary reason, which in this case is the rhino horn, since its medicinal value is zero', has criticized the leader of a rhinoceros defense association in South Africa.