Rhinos get radioactive horns, will trigger nuclear alarms if poached

In a groundbreaking effort to combat poaching, scientists in South Africa are injecting the horns of live rhinos with non-toxic radioactive isotopes.

This innovative approach aims to make the horns unfit for human consumption and facilitate easier tracking at international borders.

According to a press release from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, this novel initiative marks a significant step in wildlife conservation.

Introducing the Rhisotope Project

The University’s Radiation and Health Physics Unit (RHPU) launched the Rhisotope Project on Tuesday, an endeavor that has been in development for several years. Designed as a countermeasure against poachers who illegally harvest rhino horns for alternative medicine and luxury items, this project promises to deter smuggling and save countless rhinos.

As part of the program, low doses of radioisotopes are drilled into the horns of 20 sedated rhinos. These rhinos will be closely monitored over the next six months to assess their health and the effectiveness of the isotopes. Should the trial prove successful, there are plans to extend this technique to other endangered species such as elephants and pangolins, as well as to various plant species.

“Consuming products made from the horns will make them ‘essentially poisonous for human consumption,’” a researcher explained to France’s AFP . However, the primary objective is to detect smuggling attempts before the horns leave the country.

Many major airports and harbors, including those in South Africa, already have equipment to detect radioactive materials, originally meant to prevent nuclear threats. This technology can now be used to spot smuggled rhino horns , prompting quick police action.

Ensuring animal safety

One of the critical aspects of the Rhisotope Project is ensuring the safety and well-being of the animals involved.

“Each insertion was closely monitored by expert veterinarians and extreme care was taken to prevent any harm to the animals,” stated Professor James Larkin, the project’s lead. He emphasized that extensive research and testing were conducted to guarantee that the inserted radioisotopes pose no health risks to the rhinos or their caretakers.

Witwatersrand University has also released a YouTube video explaining their team’s efforts to fight poaching with this innovative process.

“Every 20 hours in South Africa, a rhino dies for its horn,” Larkin said. “These poached horns are then trafficked across the world and used for traditional medicines or as status symbols. This has led to their horns being the most valuable false commodity in the black-market trade, surpassing even gold, platinum, diamonds, and cocaine.”

Despite a reported 11% decrease in rhino poaching in South Africa in 2023, with 499 rhinos killed compared to 2022, the threat remains significant. There are approximately 16,800 white rhinos and 6,500 black rhinos left globally. South Africa holds about 80% of the world’s white rhinos and around 30% of the black rhinos. This makes the country a crucial battleground in the fight against poaching .

The persistent threat of rhino poaching

The illegal trade in rhino horns is mainly driven by high demand in some Asian countries. People there believe the horns have strong medicinal properties, even though there’s no scientific proof. At one time, rhino horns were more expensive than cocaine in Vietnam , creating a huge black market.

Poachers often kill rhinos to harvest their horns, even though the horns can regrow if removed correctly. In response, several conservation initiatives have been implemented. These include relocating rhinos to safer areas and removing their horns to deter poachers.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the situation, as reduced funding led to security shortages in conservation areas across Africa. This allowed poaching activities to surge, putting rhino populations at even greater risk.

International efforts to address rhino poaching have also seen recent successes. Earlier this month, authorities in Indonesia arrested six suspects involved in a poaching network accused of using homemade firearms to kill over two dozen critically endangered Javan rhinos since 2018.

In a separate case last year, a Malaysian man known as the “Godfather,” who sold numerous black and white rhino horns to an undercover source, was sentenced to a year and a half in a U.S. prison.