'Better de-horned than dead' – zoo chops rhino horns to foil poachers

Czech zoo takes saw to the horns of its 21 rhinoceroses in response to deadly attack at Paris wildlife park this month

A Czech zoo has started to remove the horns from its 21 rhinos as a precaution after the recent killing of a rhinoceros at a wildlife park in France by assailants who stole the animal's horn.

With rhino horns considered a wonder cure in Asia - for everything from cancer, colds and fevers to high blood pressure, hangovers, impotence and other ailments - poachers have killed thousands of the animals in Africa and elsewhere.