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The RhinoProtect Treatment
The Rhinoprotect Treatment: Poisoned, Coloured, X-Ray detectable horns
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The RhinoProtect Treatment
X-Ray detectable Horn

The RhinoProtect Treatment

A necessary action done under the threat of rhino poaching

In the past two years there has been an increase in rhino poaching, with South Africa as a prime target for poachers. With hundreds of rhino being poached annually for their horn, which some people believe has medicinal properties, Inverdoorn Game Reserve was compelled to increase security to protect the reserve's three rhino.

In 2011 the reserve stepped up security with 24-hour-patrols on foot and by vehicle and helicopter at times - sparing no expense to protect their animals. These measures are prohibitively expensive, but utterly necessary. Thus far Inverdoorn's rhinos have been spared, but it became apparent that more needed to be done.

For a long time Inverdoorn's staff and team of professionals had been thinking of ways to prevent their rhino from being poached. One of the considerations was producing a horn treatment that would make the horn worthless. After many months of research they developed a substance that, if injected into the horn, would not be harmful to the rhino, but would have a two-fold effect in protecting it: the horn would be unfit for human consumption and almost impossible to smuggle through an airport terminal.

On 2 December 2011 Inverdoorn administered their barium and dye-infused horn treatment to their three rhinos, just a few days after neighbouring game reserves had their rhinos poached and injured. The dye stains only the inner core of the horn so the beauty and dignity of the animal is preserved and the barium causes it to become more detectable on an airport scanner. The procedure is quick and painless, significantly reducing any stress to the animal, and poses no threat to its health.

While the horn treatment makes the horn, or any by-products created with the horn, unpalatable for human consumption, it is not lethal nor will it have any long-term, harmful effects for humans.

RhinoProtect is primarily concerned with administering this revolutionary treatment to as many rhino as they can, to ensure that more rhino are protected than poached. While the treatment has proved to be effective thus far, it relies heavily on the involvement of the public to spread the word. Inverdoorn hopes that community-driven awareness programmes will get the message out to those who care about protecting our natural heritage, but also to poachers and ultimately the end-user.

For more information visit www.rhinoprotect.org

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Inverdoorn Inverdoorn

INVERDOORN Game Reserve
 Big 5 Safari
1200 Free-Roaming Animals
 Iziba Safari Lodge
 5 stars Luxury Lodge
21/2 Hours from Cape Town

Why choose Inverdoorn?

Amongst the wonders of Nature exists a splendid place situated in the magnificence of the vast open Karoo landscape, Inverdoorn Game Reserve & Iziba Safari Lodge. The 10 000 hectare property is a resourceful and stylish 'oasis' destination, only a 2.5-hour drive from Cape Town city centre.

Exclusive Cheetah interactions

Inverdoorn offers guests the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to really get to grips with a cheetah through its Exclusive Encounters package that allow guests to spend time interacting with the cheetahs through stroking, petting and giving the cheetahs water. Guests who opt for the five-star luxury accommodation packages automatically enjoy the one-on-one encounters while an optional extra package is available to other overnight guests and even day visitors. Learn More...