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That powder is then manufactured and shaped into a horn with 3D-printing techniques. The process of creating the horn starts with producing a keratin protein-based powder, Pembient CEO Matthew Markus told CNN in 2015. While the post doesn't directly identify what company purportedly created fake rhino horns with genetics similar to a real horn, USA TODAY found some claims led to reports about Pembient, a Seattle-based company.Ī biotech company, Pembient announced its project to develop products "genetically and spectrographically similar to rhino horn" in 2015.įact Check: Trump's Twitter account remains suspended The technology exists, but this image being shared as current news doesn't reflect the present reality. The image resurfaced in late May on Twitter and Reddit. Versions of the same claim date back to at least 2015 on Reddit and 2016 on Facebook. Shared by a self-described positive news account, the image has received almost 20,000 shares since it was posted May 27. It was taken in 2014 by the Associated Press. The image shows two Thai Customs Department officials holding confiscated rhino horns during a press conference. The caption said the company, which they don't identify by name, "plans to flood (the) Chinese rhino horn market" at a fraction of the cost of real rhino horns to force poachers out of business.įact check: No, email to Fauci doesn't contain origin of a 'coronavirus bioweapon' "A biotech startup has managed to 3-D print fake rhino horns that carry the same genetic fingerprint as the actual horn," the caption of an image shared May 27 on Facebook read. One widespread social media post claims a biotech company found the solution. Non-profits continue to search for an effective way to stop illegal rhino poaching, which has left most of the species critically endangered.
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The claim: Company 3D-printed fake rhino horns, plans to combat poaching The additional information does not change our rating. Watch Video: Endangered eastern black rhino calf born in England zooĮditor's note: This story was updated June 17 with information from Pembient, which did not respond to requests for comment before publication.