South Africa Uses Radioactive Material in Rhino Horns to Deter Poaching
South African scientists inject rhino horns with harmless radioactive isotopes to improve detection and combat illegal trade, marking a new advance in wildlife protection.
Project Launch and Purpose
South African researchers at the University of the Witwatersrand have unveiled a new anti-poaching initiative that involves injecting rhino horns with a trace amount of radioactive material. The process, known as the Rhisotope Project, aims to make horns easily detectable in international customs checks without harming the animals.
How It Works and Safety Tests
The team spent six years developing and testing the technique. In a pilot involving 20 rhinos, scientists confirmed the material is safe and effectively triggers alerts in nuclear security scanners, helping authorities trace smuggled horns along global routes.
Conservation Impact
With South Africa home to the largest rhino population in the world, poaching remains a critical threat. White rhinos are classified as vulnerable and black rhinos as critically endangered. By marking horns at the source, the project adds a new layer of defense against wildlife crime and supports ongoing conservation efforts.
Injecting rhino horns with harmless radioactive isotopes could revolutionize anti-poaching efforts by enabling rapid detection and halting illegal trade.
This topic was reported by BBC News.
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