South African scientists are pioneering a groundbreaking strategy to fight rhino poaching by injecting the horns of these majestic animals with a radioactive substance. Researchers from the University of the Witwatersrand have developed this method, referred to as the Rhisotope Project, which aims to facilitate the detection of smuggled horns without jeopardizing the animals' health.
Yearly, South Africa, home to the largest population of rhinos globally, faces rampant poaching. Hundreds are lost to poachers each year, prompting urgent action. According to Professor James Larkin, a member of the research team, this proactive approach to conservation is crucial, especially since at least one rhino falls victim to poaching daily. The Rhisotope Project has been in development for six years and cost around £220,000 ($290,000).
The initial pilot study involved 20 rhinos, confirming that the radioactive material poses no harm to them. The collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency has yielded promising results, demonstrating that horns could even be detected within shipping containers—a stride towards curbing the illicit wildlife trade.
Support for the project comes from prominent conservation voices like Jamie Joseph, a South African rhino campaigner, who acknowledges its potential to disrupt the illegal flow of rhino horns, which are often trafficked to Asian markets for traditional medicine and as status symbols. In a sobering statistic, over 400 rhinos have been poached annually since 2021, as reported by the conservation charity Save the Rhino.
Jessica Babich, leading the Rhisotope initiative, emphasizes that the goal is to expand this technology on a larger scale to protect one of Africa's most iconic species. "By doing so, we safeguard not just rhinos but a vital part of our natural heritage," she stated. The plight of rhinos is emblematic of broader conservation challenges, as white rhinos are classified as threatened while black rhinos are critically endangered, underscoring the urgency of innovative solutions in wildlife preservation.
Yearly, South Africa, home to the largest population of rhinos globally, faces rampant poaching. Hundreds are lost to poachers each year, prompting urgent action. According to Professor James Larkin, a member of the research team, this proactive approach to conservation is crucial, especially since at least one rhino falls victim to poaching daily. The Rhisotope Project has been in development for six years and cost around £220,000 ($290,000).
The initial pilot study involved 20 rhinos, confirming that the radioactive material poses no harm to them. The collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency has yielded promising results, demonstrating that horns could even be detected within shipping containers—a stride towards curbing the illicit wildlife trade.
Support for the project comes from prominent conservation voices like Jamie Joseph, a South African rhino campaigner, who acknowledges its potential to disrupt the illegal flow of rhino horns, which are often trafficked to Asian markets for traditional medicine and as status symbols. In a sobering statistic, over 400 rhinos have been poached annually since 2021, as reported by the conservation charity Save the Rhino.
Jessica Babich, leading the Rhisotope initiative, emphasizes that the goal is to expand this technology on a larger scale to protect one of Africa's most iconic species. "By doing so, we safeguard not just rhinos but a vital part of our natural heritage," she stated. The plight of rhinos is emblematic of broader conservation challenges, as white rhinos are classified as threatened while black rhinos are critically endangered, underscoring the urgency of innovative solutions in wildlife preservation.
