Rhino horns injected with radioactive material to deter poachers
A team from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) said the rhinos would not be harmed by a process that would allow smuggled horns to be tracked across the world.
Hundreds of the animals are poached every year in South Africa, which has the largest rhino population in the world.
The Rhisotope Project, which cost about £220,000, involved six years of testing and research, according to those involved.
James Larkin, a Wits professor involved in the project, told the BBC: 'At least one animal a day is still being poached.
' I think the figures are only going to go one way if we don't watch out.... this is a significant tool to help reduce the numbers of poaching, because we're proactive rather than being reactive.'
Prof Larkin said the study, which initially involved 20 rhinos, confirmed that radioactive isotopes could be stored inside their horns completely safely.
The academics worked with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the project. They found that rhino horns stashed inside fully-sized metal shipping containers could be detected due to the radioactive isotopes – even at low levels.
This could lead to the arrests of poachers and traffickers.
The project was praised by animal rights activists, including Jamie Joseph, the director of the charity Saving the Wild, who said it was 'much needed'.
He said: 'It's not the endgame – only better legislation and political will can bring an end to the rhino crisis.
'But it will certainly help disrupt the flow of horns leaving the country and help experts better map out the illegal channels by providing reliable data.'
Around 500 rhinos were killed for their horns every year in South Africa since 2021, according to Save the Rhino, the conservation charity.
Jessica Babich, head of the Rhisotope Project, said: 'Our goal is to deploy the Rhisotope technology at scale to help protect one of Africa's most iconic and threatened species.
'By doing so, we safeguard not just rhinos but a vital part of our natural heritage.'
The International Union for Conservation of Nature has estimated that the global rhino population was 500,000 at the beginning of the 20th century but has now declined to 27,000 due to continued demand for rhino horns on the black market.
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