About a month ago, I returned from one of the most pivotal experiences of my life, a trip to South Africa. Here I was able to appreciate a number of new perspectives, that of the average South African 10-year-old, a samango monkey researcher at the top of Mount Lajuma, an animal guard at a wildlife refuge, and even the perspective of a poacher.

Here in the US, when I used to hear about issues such as rhino poaching, it was hard to contain my anger. How could anyone do this? Don't they understand the consequences of their actions? These incredible animals have been on our planet for over 50 million years and due to the poachers' reckless and irresponsible actions, they're on the brink of extinction. And what, all for money? I couldn't wrap my head around the type of person that would do this. However, after a trip to Kruger National Park, I was able to understand.

Here's a rundown of what you need to know about rhinos in general. The rhino's closest relatives within evolutionary lineage include horses, zebras, and tapirs. There are five species of rhino: The Indian rhino, Sumatran rhino, Javan rhino, African white rhino, and African black rhino. All of them qualify under the ICUN to be either critically endangered, vulnerable, or near threatened, the worst off being Javan rhinos with only about 60 left in West Java. A rhino has two horns which are made of keratin, the same material human hair and fingernails are made of.

So, how could anyone kill a rhino knowing that their populations are so low in number? Well, 1 kg of rhino horn is worth $65,000. This is currently valued higher than the price of gold. The rhino horn can weigh anywhere from 1.5-4 kg, meaning the price of one horn can be up to $260,000. With each rhino having two horns, poaching both horns can earn a poacher up to $350,000. Why is it worth so much if it's just made of keratin? The problem lies among thousands of years of cultural beliefs in Vietnam as well as in Arabian countries. Rhino horns were used to make dagger handles in various Arabian countries, and are believed to have medicinal value. In Vietnam it is believed to improve sexual performance, cure hangovers, treat cancer, and relieve pain when ground up and consumed and/or ingested as a powder. However, there is scientific evidence that none of this is true.

When you look at all of the reasons rhinos are poached, it's unsettling to realize that two to three rhinos are being killed every day for ultimately no reason. We should blame the poachers themselves right? Most of the time, no. While there are some poachers that are specially trained men from overseas with military grade equipment, most poachers are extremely underprivileged men with absolutely no means of supporting their families. They are offered equipment and a minuscule amount of the profit that comes from poaching the horn. This is an irresistible offer, and will allow them to feed their families for years. It is hard to blame this sort of man. So who do we blame? Who is at fault? The buyers. If there was no demand, there would be no need for supply.

Those that work in the national park system have tried a number of things to end this problem. There are park rangers on patrol in every national park that are legally allowed to kill poachers. But sadly, far more rangers are being killed than poachers and this is proving not to be very effective. The parks have also tried sawing off the horns of their rhinos, but even the small stump that's left is enough for poachers to hunt because of the high cost. One effective method now being used is a serum injected into the rhino horns known as a "triple-ingredient cocktail." The cocktail contains red dye that deters buyers by making the powder look fake, a substance that makes humans sick, and a substance that makes the horn detectible by x-ray so that it cannot be smuggled in airports. With enough publicity this cocktail has been very effective in keeping poachers away by making it virtually worthless, but is very expensive and must be re-injected every few years.

So how can we end this? How can we conserve rhino species? There is no simple answer, but there are a number of things we can do.

1. Educate.

Educate those overseas that believe rhino horns have healing and medicinal powers. Educate your friends, your family, your coworkers on the topic so that they can understand the danger that rhinoceroses are in and the urgency of the issue.

2. Never, ever purchase anything made from rhino horn.

If there is no demand, there will be no need to supply.

3. Invest.

Invest in the national parks system, in rhino conservation, and donate to the cause if injecting rhino horns. This is obviously not a feasible solution for poor college students like me- but every penny counts.

All of these things are easier said than done. However, it is important to educate and to always have hope. "Only if we understand, can we care. Only if we care, we will help. Only if we help, we shall be saved." Jane Goodall.