Latest news with #Rhisotope
Time of India
03-08-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Radioactive horns: South Africa's bold approach to rhino conservation
In a world-first effort to combat the ruthless poaching of rhinos, scientists in South Africa have developed a groundbreaking method: injecting rhino horns with radioactive material. The initiative, known as the Rhisotope Project, is the brainchild of researchers from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits University) and marks a bold, science-driven attempt to save one of Africa's most iconic animals. South Africa is home to the largest population of rhinos in the world—particularly white rhinos and the critically endangered black rhinos. Yet, this very distinction has turned the country into a poaching hotspot. According to conservation charity Save the Rhino , over 400 rhinos have been poached in South Africa every year since 2021, driven by illegal trade networks that stretch from African parks to Asian markets. Read more: After humans, this mammal rules the Earth, and 5 countries with its thriving population (no, not cows!) Rhino horns are highly sought after in parts of Asia, where they are believed to have medicinal properties and are also viewed as luxury status symbols. The lucrative black market has made it difficult for governments and conservationists to keep pace. A radioactive breakthrough Enter the Rhisotope Project, a six-year research effort that cost roughly £220,000 ($290,000) and involved collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The method involves injecting a tiny amount of radioactive isotope into a rhino's horn, a process that has been rigorously tested and deemed completely safe for the animals. Wits University professor James Larkin, one of the key figures behind the project, told the BBC that the innovation shifts the approach from reactive to proactive. 'At least one animal a day is still being poached,' he said. 'This is a significant tool to help reduce the numbers of poaching.' The idea is not to harm anyone who touches the horn but to make the horn detectable by radiation monitors at ports, airports, and border crossings. Customs officers, who already use radiation detectors for other security purposes, could easily identify smuggled rhino horns—even those hidden inside massive 40-foot shipping containers. Pilot study The initial pilot involved 20 rhinos, all of whom responded well to the treatment. Larkin confirmed the material was 'completely safe' and did not harm the animals. The team's success in proving that the radioactive horns can be tracked through international freight systems marks a pivotal moment in the fight against wildlife trafficking. Jessica Babich, head of the Rhisotope Project, emphasized the scale of their ambition: '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.' Read more: 5 snake parks in India that are absolutely fang-tastic and what makes them special Conservationist Jamie Joseph, director of Saving the Wild , called the project 'innovative and much needed.' She noted that while this solution isn't the 'endgame,' it can still disrupt smuggling networks and help experts better understand trafficking routes through hard data. '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,' she added. Despite its promise, the Rhisotope Project is not a silver bullet. Activists and scientists alike stress the need for stronger laws, enforcement, and political will. Without these structural changes, even the most advanced technologies may only offer short-term deterrence. Still, the Rhisotope Project represents a rare intersection of nuclear science, conservation, and real-world impact—an example of how innovation can step into spaces where policy and enforcement have lagged. As poachers use more sophisticated tools, so tools used to fight them are also being enhanced. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
The Star
01-08-2025
- Science
- The Star
South Africa starts radioactive isotopes injection to fight rhino poaching
CAPE TOWN, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- South African researchers have started injecting small amounts of detectable radioactive isotopes into rhino horns to deter poachers and traffickers, according to a statement released Friday by the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits University). The Rhisotope Project, launched on Thursday, is expected to become fully operational by August in a bid to curb the high levels of illegal rhino poaching in the country. According to the statement, the project aims to disrupt the illegal rhino horn trade by embedding low-level radioactive isotopes into the horns, while these isotopes can be detected by radiation scanners at border posts and customs checkpoints worldwide. Leading the project are researchers from Wits University in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Last year, about 20 rhinos at a sanctuary were injected with isotopes during early trials that led to the Thursday launch, with tests showing that the procedure poses no harm 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 Wits University Professor James Larkin, who is also the chief scientific officer of the Rhisotope Project. The tests also confirmed that individual horns can be detected even inside full 40-foot shipping containers. "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. South Africa is home to the largest rhino population in the world, with around 16,000 rhinos. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the white rhino is classified as "near threatened," and the black rhino is listed as "critically endangered." In March, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Dion George reported that between January and February 2024, 420 rhinos were poached in South Africa, with 320 being killed on state-owned properties and 100 on privately owned parks, reserves, or farms. "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," said Rhisotope Project Chief Executive Officer Jessica Babich.
