Scientists in South Africa are making rhino horns radioactive to fight poaching
Under the collaborative project involving the University of the Witwatersrand, nuclear energy officials and conservationists, five rhinos were injected in what the university hopes will be the start of a mass injection of the declining rhino population.
They're calling it the Rhisotope Project.
Last year, about 20 rhinos at a sanctuary were injected with isotopes in trials that paved the way for Thursday's launch. The radioactive isotopes even at low levels can be recognized by radiation detectors at airports and borders, leading to the arrest of poachers and traffickers.
Researchers at Witwatersrand's Radiation and Health Physics Unit say that tests conducted in the pilot study confirmed that the radioactive material was not harmful to the rhinos.
'We have demonstrated, beyond scientific doubt, that the process is completely safe for the animal and effective in making the horn detectable through international customs nuclear security systems,' said James Larkin, chief scientific officer at the Rhisotope Project.
'Even a single horn with significantly lower levels of radioactivity than what will be used in practice successfully triggered alarms in radiation detectors,' Larkin said.
The tests also found that horns could be detected inside full 40-foot shipping containers, he said.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature estimates that the global rhino population stood at around 500,000 at the beginning of the 20th century but has now declined to around 27,000 due to continued demand for rhino horns on the black market.
South Africa has the largest population of rhinos with an estimated 16,000, but the country experiences high levels of poaching with about 500 rhinos killed for their horns every year.
The university has urged private wildlife park owners and national conservation authorities to have their rhinos injected.
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Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Rhino horns turned radioactive to fight poachers in South Africa
South African scientists have launched an anti-poaching campaign in which rhino's horns will be injected with a radioactive material. The group, from the University of the Witwatersrand, said the process is harmless to rhinos but will allow customs officers to detect smuggled horns as they're transported across the world. South Africa has the largest rhino population in the world, and hundreds of the animals are poached there every year. The university's venture, called the Rhisotope Project, was launched on Friday after six years of research and testing. "Our goal is to deploy the Rhisotope technology at scale to help protect one of Africa's most iconic and threatened species," said Jessica Babich, head of the Rhisotope Project. "By doing so, we safeguard not just rhinos but a vital part of our natural heritage." Tests conducted in the pilot study, which involved 20 rhinos, confirmed that the radioactive material was not harmful to the animals. "We have demonstrated, beyond scientific doubt, that the process is completely safe for the animal and effective in making the horn detectable through international customs nuclear security systems," said James Larkin a professor at Wits University who is also part of the project. The horns of African rhinos are often exported to Asian markets were they are used in traditional medicine and also seen as a status symbol. White rhinos are considered threatened, while black rhinos are critically endangered. You may also be interested in: World's first IVF rhino pregnancy 'could save species' Illegal trade booms in South Africa's 'super-strange looking' plants PODCAST: Women in South Africa and Zambia protect wildlife from poachers Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica BBC Africa podcasts Africa Daily Focus on Africa
NBC News
2 days ago
- NBC News
Scientists in South Africa are making rhino horns radioactive to fight poaching
MOKOPANE, South Africa — A South African university launched an anti-poaching campaign Thursday to inject the horns of rhinos with radioactive isotopes that it says are harmless for the animals but can be detected by customs agents. Under the collaborative project involving the University of the Witwatersrand, nuclear energy officials and conservationists, five rhinos were injected in what the university hopes will be the start of a mass injection of the declining rhino population. They're calling it the Rhisotope Project. Last year, about 20 rhinos at a sanctuary were injected with isotopes in trials that paved the way for Thursday's launch. The radioactive isotopes even at low levels can be recognized by radiation detectors at airports and borders, leading to the arrest of poachers and traffickers. Researchers at Witwatersrand's Radiation and Health Physics Unit say that tests conducted in the pilot study confirmed that the radioactive material was not harmful to the rhinos. 'We have demonstrated, beyond scientific doubt, that the process is completely safe for the animal and effective in making the horn detectable through international customs nuclear security systems,' said James Larkin, chief scientific officer at the Rhisotope Project. 'Even a single horn with significantly lower levels of radioactivity than what will be used in practice successfully triggered alarms in radiation detectors,' Larkin said. The tests also found that horns could be detected inside full 40-foot shipping containers, he said. The International Union for Conservation of Nature estimates that the global rhino population stood at around 500,000 at the beginning of the 20th century but has now declined to around 27,000 due to continued demand for rhino horns on the black market. South Africa has the largest population of rhinos with an estimated 16,000, but the country experiences high levels of poaching with about 500 rhinos killed for their horns every year. The university has urged private wildlife park owners and national conservation authorities to have their rhinos injected.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Why South Africa is injecting Rhino horns with radioactive isotopes
South Africa has launched an innovative anti-poaching campaign, injecting rhino horns with radioactive isotopes to deter illegal trafficking. The University of the Witwatersrand, alongside nuclear energy officials and conservationists, initiated the project on Thursday, with five rhinos receiving the harmless isotopes. These are designed to be detectable by customs agents. The university hopes this marks the start of a mass injection programme for the nation's declining rhino population. Last year, about 20 rhinos at a sanctuary were injected with isotopes as part of initial trials that paved the way for Thursday's launch. The radioactive isotopes even at low levels can be recognised by radiation detectors at airports and borders, which can lead to the arrest of poachers and traffickers. Researchers at Witwatersrand's Radiation and Health Physics Unit say that tests conducted throughout the pilot study confirmed that the radioactive material was not harmful to the animals. 'We have demonstrated, beyond scientific doubt, that the process is completely safe for the animal and effective in making the horn detectable through international customs nuclear security systems,' said James Larkin, chief scientific officer of the Rhisotope Project. 'Even a single horn with significantly lower levels of radioactivity than what will be used in practice successfully triggered alarms in radiation detectors,' said Larkin. The tests also confirmed that individual horns could be detected inside full 40-foot shipping containers, he said. The International Union for Conservation of Nature, an international conservation body, estimates that the global rhino population stood at around 500,000 at the beginning of the 20th century but has now declined to around 27,000 due to continued demand for rhino horns on the black market. South Africa has the largest population of rhinos with an estimated 16,000 but the country experiences high levels of poaching with about 500 rhinos killed for their horns every year. Private and public rhino owners and conservation authorities have been urged approach the university to have their rhinos injected.
