Must not advocate use of Rhino horn -- even in jest



Use of Rhino horn as an aphrodisiac is superstitious nonsense but there is unfortunately a lot of superstition in the Far East and it does lead to the illicit slaughter of Rhinos for their horns.

Belief in the Holy Trinity is pretty nonsensical too so Westerners cannot afford to be too critical.

"Elle Macpherson says she regrets any distress she may caused by jokingly advocating the use of powdered rhino horn, a traditional Chinese medicine that is banned worldwide.

During a recent interview with The Sunday Times Magazine, the Australian model said that she had tasted rhino horn and that it had "done the job".

Her comments were condemned by animal rights activists, more so because Macpherson had publicly boycotted a posh London restaurant for serving bluefin tuna, an animal that is as endangered as the white rhino.

However, the model told news.com.au today that she had "never knowingly consumed or encouraged the use or consumption of any products which contain material derived from endangered species".

Source

There is a bit of sleight of hand above. It is true that the white (more properly "weit") Rhino is endangered but other Rhinos are not.

Posted by John J. Ray (M.A.; Ph.D.).