animals as commodities

Rhino poaching in South Africa has sky rocketed with 1 or more rhinos killed per day in 2011.  

They are killed for their horns which are extremely valuable in Asia for "medicine" and decorations.  

They are not always killed first, rather their horns are hacked off and they are left to die in agony.  This is terrible and heartbreaking. Not only will these beautiful animals go extinct very soon, but they are suffering tremendously and having their lives terminated.  I hate that this is a completely illegal act ignoring the will of the majority of South Africans, but it is also totally part of world system that views animals as commodities of utilitarian benefit to humans.  The only difference is that South Africans value these rhinos as a symbol of national wilderness and beauty, while Asians view them as medicinal and decorative commodities.  South Africans are not necessarily against the murder of rhinos as legal hunting continues in South Africa.  If these animals tasted good then we would eat them as indifferently as all the other millions of animals that are raised for our consumption.  My heart is aching. 

A news story.