Rhino horn is used as an aphrodisiac
This is a Western media myth! Rhino horn is used for various medicinal and ornamental purposes in Asia, and this use is deeply entrenched in several Eastern cultures and traditions.
Rhinos used to be far more widespread and our human ancestors hunted and ate them in Europe and Asia. They also used rhino horn to make ornaments such as bowls and used some rhino body parts as medicine. Rhinos played a strong role in many traditions and cultures and it is quite likely that the mythical unicorn with its healing horn was in fact a rhino.
According to historical records, Gujarati people from India once believed that rhino horn acted as an aphrodisiac, but this is no longer relevant and has not been for many decades. Today, some rhino horn is still used to make ornamental dagger handles in Yemen, but the most important demand remains among certain East Asian communities, who use it as a medicinal ingredient to treat ailments relating to toxicity, inflammation and fevers.
The aphrodisiac myth makes for sensational reporting in the Western media, but does nothing to advance communication and understanding between people who are concerned about saving the rhino and those who still believe that its horn has curative powers.
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