A South African university has launched a bold new initiative to curb rhino poaching by injecting radioactive isotopes into rhino horns. The University of the Witwatersrand, in collaboration with nuclear experts and conservationists, began the campaign Thursday by injecting five rhinos with low-level radioactive material.
The substances are harmless to the animals but detectable by airport and border radiation scanners, aiming to disrupt illegal horn trafficking. The initiative, part of the Rhisotope Project, follows earlier trials in which 20 rhinos were safely treated at a sanctuary last year.
James Larkin, chief scientific officer of the project, confirmed that tests proved the process safe and highly effective in triggering radiation alarms. “Even a single horn with significantly lower levels of radioactivity than planned was enough to set off customs detectors,” Larkin said.
The isotopes can also be identified inside 40-foot shipping containers, enhancing the chances of intercepting illegal shipments. Conservation groups hope this scientific breakthrough will deter poachers, who kill around 500 rhinos annually in South Africa alone.
The global rhino population has plummeted from 500,000 in the early 1900s to just 27,000 today, driven by black market demand for horns. South Africa remains home to nearly 16,000 rhinos, making it the epicentre of both protection efforts and poaching threats.
The university has called on private owners and conservation authorities to join the project by having their rhinos injected. Researchers believe the method could become a game-changer in the global fight against wildlife trafficking.
