London, Nov 21 : The cost of rhino horn has left gold prices behind for the first time in ten years.

Rhino horn, which has medicinal value, now stands at 36,300pounds a kilo, while gold is 24,600pounds in the markets of South Asia.

An average horn weighs 7kg.

Killing of Rhinos has also peaked to a new high in 15 years. Two years ago 13 rhinos were killed in South Africa compared to 84 this year. Zimbabwe, India and Nepal have also witnessed a rise in rhino poaching.

A Vietnamese minister's claim that powdered horn could help cancer patients has only increased its demand further.

"This latest onslaught shows that we''ll never be able to declare rhinos safe," the Sun quoted expert Mark Cawardine, as saying. (ANI)