The fight for rhino horn

Rhinos poached 2015: Approximately 1,300 
Current rhino population in Africa: Estimated at 20,000 
Price per kilo of rhino horn: Up to $60,000 
Poacher's payment: $500 
Poachers brought to court annually: 400

The number of African rhinos used to number in the hundreds of thousands. Today, there are around 20,000 left on the entire continent. Last year alone, poachers killed some 1,300 rhinos for their horns, which fetch up to $60,000 per kilogram in Asia. 

National parks are arming themselves against the illegal hunters. Rangers often patrol with automatic weapons. A veritable war is raging in the bush, with rangers fighting poachers trying to rise out of poverty, and who often don't know the extent of the business paying for their services. Those higher up the foodchain are making the real money. 

It's a conflict in which animals and humans are losers alike.

A film by Jürgen Schneider