South African scientists are pioneering an innovative approach in their battle against rhino poaching by injecting rhino horns with a harmless radioactive substance. This initiative, led by researchers from the University of the Witwatersrand, seeks to enhance detection of smuggled horns during transport. South Africa, home to the world’s largest rhino population, suffers significant losses annually, with hundreds of these majestic creatures falling prey to poachers.
Dubbed the Rhisotope Project, this venture has consumed roughly £220,000 ($290,000) and is the culmination of six years of extensive research and testing. According to Professor James Larkin, who is involved in the project, the poaching rate has reached alarming levels, highlighting the urgent need for proactive measures. "At least one animal a day is still being poached," he noted, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
The initial pilot study, which analyzed a sample group of 20 rhinos, confirmed that the radioactive material is entirely safe for the animals. Collaborating with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Wits University team discovered that the horns could be identified even within large shipping containers, greatly assisting customs in their efforts to combat illegal trade.
Prominent rhino activist Jamie Joseph deemed the Rhisotope Project as "innovative and much needed." While she acknowledged it wasn’t the sole solution to the rhino crisis, Joseph emphasized its potential to disrupt the rhino horn smuggling networks and improve data collection on illegal trafficking. The conservation charity Save the Rhino reports that over 400 rhinos have been poached annually in South Africa since 2021.
Jessica Babich, the head of the Rhisotope Project, articulated the goal of deploying this technology widely to safeguard one of Africa's most iconic animals. "By doing so, we safeguard not just rhinos but a vital part of our natural heritage," she stated. The demand for rhino horns, primarily in Asian markets, contributes heavily to their poaching—often viewed as a symbol of status or used in traditional medicine. White rhinos are currently classified as threatened, while black rhinos face a critical endangerment status.
Dubbed the Rhisotope Project, this venture has consumed roughly £220,000 ($290,000) and is the culmination of six years of extensive research and testing. According to Professor James Larkin, who is involved in the project, the poaching rate has reached alarming levels, highlighting the urgent need for proactive measures. "At least one animal a day is still being poached," he noted, underscoring the gravity of the situation.
The initial pilot study, which analyzed a sample group of 20 rhinos, confirmed that the radioactive material is entirely safe for the animals. Collaborating with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Wits University team discovered that the horns could be identified even within large shipping containers, greatly assisting customs in their efforts to combat illegal trade.
Prominent rhino activist Jamie Joseph deemed the Rhisotope Project as "innovative and much needed." While she acknowledged it wasn’t the sole solution to the rhino crisis, Joseph emphasized its potential to disrupt the rhino horn smuggling networks and improve data collection on illegal trafficking. The conservation charity Save the Rhino reports that over 400 rhinos have been poached annually in South Africa since 2021.
Jessica Babich, the head of the Rhisotope Project, articulated the goal of deploying this technology widely to safeguard one of Africa's most iconic animals. "By doing so, we safeguard not just rhinos but a vital part of our natural heritage," she stated. The demand for rhino horns, primarily in Asian markets, contributes heavily to their poaching—often viewed as a symbol of status or used in traditional medicine. White rhinos are currently classified as threatened, while black rhinos face a critical endangerment status.
