40-something supermodel Elle Macpherson has apparently been duped into thinking rhino horn has medicinal benefits.
Is aging beauty Elle Macpherson ignorant, gullible, or just plain clueless?
In a recent Sunday Times interview by Mark Edmonds, the has-been supermodel outraged wildlife conservationists, activists, and concerned individuals when she casually mentioned that she takes powdered rhino horn.
Apparently oblivious to the fact that four of the five rhino species are teetering at the edge of extinction because of myths and superstitions about rhino horn, she noted that rhino horn tastes like “crushed bone and fungus” and it “does the job”.
As scientific analysis has proven rhino horn has no medicinal effect on humans, just what “job” does this woman think rhino horn is “doing”?
‘A lot of people say Chinese medicine is quackery’
Here is the infamous “exchange” between Edmonds and Macpherson:
Witter: You’re said to be a great fan of Chinese medicine. What does powdered rhino horn taste like?
E MacP: A little bit like crushed bone and fungus in a capsule. Does the job though.
Witter: How do you know that it works? A lot of people say Chinese medicine is quackery.
E MacP: Put it this way, works for me.
Elle Macpherson is a beautiful woman – however, her beauty and her health have absolutely nothing to do with consuming rhino horn.
Another celebrity ‘above the law’?
Selling or purchasing products that contain or claim to contain ingredients derived from endangered species is prohibited by CITES.
… forbids import and export of rhino horn, tiger bone and their products, forbids selling, purchasing, transporting, carrying and mailing rhino horn, tiger bone and their products.
Perhaps Elle Macpherson’s next interview can be given from a cozy jail cell, which she can share with her rhino horn “capsule” supplier.
That would provide her with plenty of time to consider that myths about rhino horn as a “remedy” has resulted in the slaughter of tens of thousands of rhinos.
Or maybe she could do a year of community service helping rhino orphans at The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust.
At the very least, Macpherson should be fined – or required to make a public apology and … hmm, how about a million-dollar contribution to a worthy rhino conservation organization?
Goodness knows she can afford it.
Sadly, this looks like yet another case where the law apparently does not apply to celebrities.
Read the entire interview here: The Sunday Times
Image via The David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation
![Rhino Horns and Trophies Exported to Asia from South Africa 2000 – 2010 [Infographic]](http://www.rhinoconservation.org/wp-content/plugins/special-recent-posts/lib/phpimage.php?width=100&height=100&rotation=no&file=L2hvbWUyL2Jpb2RpdmUxL3B1YmxpY19odG1sL3dwLWNvbnRlbnQvdXBsb2Fkcy8yMDEyLzA1L1JoaW5vVHJvcGhpZXNIb3Juc0luZm9ncmFwaGljVGh1bWJuYWlsLmpwZw==)
If she is not made an example of, then what can we expect for our Rhinos ? I can only think she is clueless and should be shown what happens when a Rhino is poached for the horn she takes so easily.
Elle Mcpherson definitely needs some education. She can probably thank good genes, not rhinos, for her looks. Although she’s done charitable work for humans, some experience helping animals would do her good. And I believe that saving endangered animals goes a long way toward saving man.
@ Jenni I completely agree!
@ Barbara Absolutely! And you are right – her beauty has nothing to do with rhino horn!
- Rhishja
the horn is doing the rhino alot more good than it is for this brainless twit. just another self absorbed poor excuse for a human being.
She used to be known as “The Body” – maybe she should be re-named “The Body Bag”. Ignorant and incredibly stupid woman who does nothing to counter the stereotype of the dumb “blonde”.
She definitely should be fined a lot of money. And by saying stupid stuff like that in public, she will make more people search out the powdered rhino horn and create a bigger market for it. This is not right!
I totally agree, Barbara.
I am currently working on my Masters in Chinese Medicine, and hold a bachelors in Wildlife Biology as well, so this story caught my attention. According to the Materia Medica, Rhino horn (a.k.a. Xi Jiao) is only used in EXTREME acute conditions in which the patient displays EXTREME heat symptoms such as fevers, nosebleeds, vomiting of blood, convulsions, delirium, or manic behavior. It is also VERY rarely used anymore and not even taught as a practical herb to prescribe for these symptoms, which can be treated with many other herbs. (One of these is water buffalo horn, which is another topic of discussion) It has even been shown in studies to raise blood pressure, so I’m really baffled as to what her herbalist has told her about the long term “benefits” of this illegal product. This is a disgrace to both of my chosen fields of study.
More importantly, the money she makes from endorsements etc should cease – her sponsors etc should dump her as a result….
I am ashamed she is an Australian.
We all knew she was a bimbo when she famously said
“I only read what I’ve written”. Now we know she is also evil.
She can’t be that stupid surely that she doesn’t realise
there are so few of these amazing animals left. Silly me,
of course she is that stupid.
Linda.
I find it amazing that, with the on going problem of poaching that runs across south africa, one of the last secure regions of the white and black Rhino in Africa that we till hear news like this. It also makes me wonder if there is enough Media on the matter. at the moment there is an average of 1 rhino being slaughtered every 2 days across South Africa alone. It is the people in the reserves and conservation areas that are on the front line of this problem and the only means to stop it. We are in a sad state of afairs at the moment with an unknown result.
I can’t believe that she is so uneducated!!!! She should come on a safari experience where rhinos have been poached so that she can get up close and personal to see where her “wonderful” tablets come from. I did like her, but definitely no more. Until she changes her attitude and make a difference, she is just another poacher to me.
This is directed to ~ romakcm04. With you doing your masters in Chinese medicine can you tell me WHY so many of our Rhinos have been plundered to date ? If it is being used only rarely as you put it, then why the continued murder of our Wildlife ?
You say yourself that it is illegal, yet you believe in its properties ? It has been proven scientifically that Rhino horn has NO medical benefits what so ever….it is basically like your finger nail…keratin…that is all. If you feel ANYTHING for our Wildlife in Africa and across the globe, I would urge, no BEG you to please educate your people or those you intend to serve. You are partly responsible for destroying a precious asset we have and nothing we can do seems to stem the tide. So PLEASE, help us stop the madness. YOU are in the perfect position to DO something, to make a difference ! Let that be the legacy which you leave behind one day. Spread the word
Thank you, everyone for your comments.
@ J Patton I’m afraid so.
@ Howard Yes, indeed.
@ Robin Yes, she could certainly afford a hefty fine. Hopefully, most people realize how ignorant she is and will not seek rhino horn. And if they do, they will find plenty of research to confirm it is just keratin and does nothing.
@ romakcm04 Legitimate scientific analysis has confirmed rhino horn has no medicinal effect on humans whatsoever (Dr. Raj Amin, ZSL, among others). Leading people to believe that extreme cases of “fevers, nosebleeds, vomiting of blood, convulsions, delirium, or manic behavior” can be treated with rhino horn has done nothing except make it profitable for poaching syndicates to slaughter hundreds of thousands of rhinos. Several subspecies of rhino (mostly Asian subspecies) are now extinct because of medical myths about rhino horn.
@ Angus I agree, I think it would be fitting for Ms. Macpherson to be dumped by her sponsors.
@ Linda Well said.
@ Brett No, there is not enough media coverage on this matter – especially in Western sources. Our blog and our website comprise one of the few online sources for recent and uncensored information on illegal rhino horn trade and rhino poaching. A great way for you – and everyone – to help us increase awareness is to share and re-post our content via your social media communities.
@ Ilana I agree, Ms. Macpherson might as well be pulling the trigger.
@ Jenni Thank you. I think you speak for all of us who are at our wit’s end as to why these creatures continued to be murdered for nothing more than myth that was busted by science a long time ago. For some reason, there is still a huge and hungry market that is buying into this “medical” nonsense.
- Rhishja
We run a rhino sanctuary in Uganda, called Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary. Rhinos were extinct in Uganda (last one killed in 1983) and ours were imported from Kenya and the USA. We have armed rhino rangers monitoring each rhino 24/7. A poacher will be shot on sight. Miss Elle – I dare you to visit us – I will personally cut off your nose while you’re still alive. In fact, maybe I should visit you, but will probably not be able to cross all your security, barbed wire, cameras, guards, etcetera you have to protect you – you witless waste of human skin!
Our sincere thanks to all the passionate people out there who assist us in fighting this ‘free-for-all’ poaching spree.
Johan Genade (my real name)
What are the chances of this lady being arrested/ penalised for what she claims to have been doing?
This model’s case should now serve as a model for other celebrities/ wildlife consumers as a wake up call.
That would only happen if at all action is initiated.
@ Johan Thank you for your comment! I am so proud of Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary for the work with Southern white rhinos – and the first SWR birth in Uganda in over 25 years! You are to be applauded for your success!
@ Azam Thank you, my friend
This looks like another case where the celebrity does not have to obey the law. Macpherson has rhino blood on her hands, as far as I am concerned.
Maybe I did not emphasize this enough….Modern Educated Chinese Herbalists are NOT taught to use rhino horn!!! We were taught that there is no valid reason to have to use this illegal, endangered product, when there are very effective alternatives!! Those symptoms I listed were just to reiterate her (and her herbalist’s) ignorance, not to validate the use of it. The use of endangered animal products is NOT condoned by Modern Schools of Oriental Medicine. Not only are we taught not to use it, but it is illegal to even get your hands on it. So if your herbalist is prescribing illegal formulas, you may want to get a second opinion (and double check the validity of their diploma!).
@ romakcm04 Let’s hope this new generation of herbalists will do everything possible to dispel the nonsense about rhino horn having any “medicinal” properties.
This considered, Macpherson was an ironic choice of date for Brit Damian Aspinall. This millionaire and one-time partner of Macpherson heads wildlife charity The Aspinall Foundation, which runs a major black rhino breeding and wild release program.