Wildlife charities upset over Elle Macpherson's 'rhino horn' comments

Elle Macpherson has responded to criticism of comments she made in an interview with The Sunday Times, saying she has never 'knowingly consumed' anything made from threatened animals. Photo / Herald on Sunday

Supermodel Elle Macpherson said today that she regrets "banter" in which she appeared to admit using a banned product made from rhino horn.

Her comments, made in an interview, upset wildlife charities for her apparent use of the Chinese medicine made from an endangered species.

But today the model-turned-businesswoman said she had not "knowingly consumed" anything made from threatened animals.

The claim originally appeared in an interview with The Sunday Times at the weekend during an interview conducted via Twitter.

She was asked what powdered rhino horn tasted like, and responded: "A little bit like crushed bone and fungus in a capsule. Does the job though."

However, a statement issued on her behalf today said: "Following comments made in a newspaper article, Elle Macpherson would like to clarify that, whilst she has great respect for Chinese medicine, she is also fundamentally opposed to any activity which is detrimental to the protection of endangered species.

"Ms Macpherson has never knowingly consumed or encouraged the use or consumption of any products which contain material derived from endangered species and regrets any distress or offence that her banter with an interviewer might have caused when repeated out of context."

- AAP