Evidence or delusion
A critique of contemporary rhino horn demand reduction strategies
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 15327044 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Hoai Nam Dang Vu (0000-0001-5721-3814, University of Copenhagen, corresponding author), Martin Reinhardt Nielsen (0000-0002-8941-6031, University of Copenhagen) |
| Year | 2020 |
| Volume | 26 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 390-400 |
| Publication date | 2020-09-05 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Human Dimensions of Wildlife (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1087-1209 • E-ISSN: 1533-158X |
| Publisher | Taylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/10871209.2020.1818896 |
| OpenAlex | W3084084040 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 8 |
| References cited | 29 |
Considerable effort has been devoted to reducing rhinoceros (i.e., rhino) horn demand by changing consumer behavior. Implementing organizations often claim that their campaigns are based on reliable insights into rhino horn demand and that there is no scientific support for any medicinal effects of rhino horn. In this opinion piece, we evaluate the scientific evidence supporting this claim and discuss how campaigns using a delusive and paternalistic approach may backfire. As the use of rhino horn in traditional medicine has a thousand-year history, it is unlikely that such deeply entrenched beliefs will be swayed by a one-sided representation of the limited scientific evidence evaluating its efficacy. Difficulties in interviewing rhino horn consumers have further contributed to lacking information about their values and characteristics. We call for more scientific evidence and a more culturally nuanced approach to rhino horn demand reduction campaigns
Delusion · Demand reduction · Epistemology · French horn · Political science · Public relations · Rhinoceros · Scientific evidence · Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies · Psychology · Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment · Ecology
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| Citations per year | 1.6 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2021 - 2025 (5) |
| Highly cited | No |