Synthetic rhinoceros horn could help save real rhinos

When asked to name an endangered species, rhinos are probably one of the first animals to come to most peoples' minds. In both Africa and Asia, poaching is causing populations to plummet, due mainly to demand for rhino horn as an ingredient in traditional Asian medicine – whether or not it actually has any medicinal value is another question altogether. In any case, San Francisco-based biotech startup Pembient is developing what it hopes could be a solution: inexpensive bioengineered rhino horn, which could out-compete the genuine item.

Synthetic Rhino Horn: For Conservation or For Profit? – Earthwise Aware

The trouble with using synthetic rhino horn to stop poaching

Biotech startup creates rhino horns - without rhinos

Can Biotech Save the Rhino?

Can Fake Rhino Horn Stop the Poaching of a Species at Risk?

Faking the Horn: can synthetic technology save the rhino?

Can Fake Rhino Horn Stop the Poaching of a Species at Risk?

Scientists Create Fake Rhino Horn to Confuse Poachers. But Will It Actually Help? – Digital for Good

Selling fake horn in effort to save rhinos from poaching could have opposite effect, inventors warned, The Independent