Synthetic horns may save rhinos if they are not like the real thing

(Wake Forest University) To help stem the tide of rhino poaching, some biotech companies are seeking to develop and manufacture synthetic horns that are identical to the real thing. New research shows that, for conservation purposes, it may be beneficial to produce synthetic horns that are engineered to be undesirable but difficult for buyers to distinguish from wild horns to create uncertainty in the market and drive out wild horn suppliers through adverse selection.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2tqgiGU