Brent Stirton's Image

The demand for rhino horn is being driven by the growing Asian middle class.

Many believe the centuries-old myth that it cures a multitude of ailments, even though it is merely keratin – the constituent of hair, fingernails and toenails. This wealthy Vietnamese woman is a typical consumer. She has bought the horn from the dealer sitting next to her and is grinding it for personal consumption in full public view in a roadside café. The woman claimed it cured her kidney stones and said that she took it daily for her general health. Despite rhino horn being an illegal substance in Vietnam, both the woman and her dealer had no fear of the police and happily ground the horn in full view of the street. The dealer told Brent that he paid $1500 a month to the ‘right’ people so that he could continue selling it with impunity.