Latest news with #RadiationandHealthPhysicsUnit
Los Angeles Times
04-08-2025
- Science
- Los Angeles Times
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 to track down 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,' he said. The tests also found that horns could be detected inside filled 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 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.
Metro
02-08-2025
- Science
- Metro
Rhinos now have radioactive horns to fight off poachers
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Scientists are making rhino horns radioactive in a scheme to combat poachers. The initiative in South Africa, which involves injecting radioactive material into horns, will both enable them to be tracked and make the prized objects less desirable to poachers. Under the Rhisotope Project, rhinos are sedated during the procedure before a small amount of radioisotopes is inserted into a hole drilled into their horns. A pilot phase in June 2024 saw 20 rhinos successfully injected with the radioactive material, which will allow authorities to trace illegal trade with the use of existing nuclear security infrastructure. Making horns radioactive will also make them a liability to those who wish to smuggle them overseas, as the metal will set off detectors at ports and airports. James Larkin, Director of the Radiation and Health Physics Unit at the University of the Witwatersrand said that the process would make rhino horns unsuitable for sale globally. 'No one wants a radioactive horn', he said. Arrie Van Deventer, founder and director of the rhino orphanage, said that the scheme could be a 'holy grail' for the species. 'It is wonderful, I am telling you, this could be the holy grail to save the species', he said. Around 500 rhinos are killed for their horns each year in South Africa, home to 80 per cent of the world's population. A total of 105 were killed in the first quarter of 2025 alone, the ministry of forestry, fisheries and the environment said. Poachers sell horns to traffickers who in turn send them to lucrative overseas markets, including China and Vietnam. A typical rhino horn can be sold for more than its weight in gold at $60,000 per kilogram. The global rhino horn black market is now worth an estimated $20billion. More Trending The use of nuclear technology could also be used to help protect other endangered species, including elephants and pangolins. Rafael Mariano Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said: 'Radiation portal monitors were not initially envisioned as rhino savers. 'They are a cornerstone of nuclear security detection infrastructure… The Rhisotope Project means this technology will now also help combat illicit wildlife trafficking.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Cat named Leonardo da Pinchy terrorises town by stealing people's underwear MORE: You could have the cutest job in the world and become a duck-crossing warden MORE: Zoo kills 12 baboons because there wasn't enough space
31-07-2025
- Science
South Africa starts injecting rhino horns with radioactive material to curb 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 which can be detected by customs agents. Under the collaborative project among University of the Witwatersrand, nuclear energy officials and conservationists, five rhinos were injected Thursday in what the university hopes will be the mass injection of the 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 recognized 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.
