• South Africa's Rhisotope Project aims to combat rhino poaching using radioactive isotopes.
• The initiative was launched by the University of the Witwatersrand to allow detectable horns.
• Radioactive treatment is deemed harmless to rhinos and could deter illegal trafficking.
• South Africa has lost about 500 rhinos yearly due to poaching, contributing to a decline in population.
• The process requires reapplication every five years, reducing stress on the animals.

A groundbreaking initiative in South Africa, the Rhisotope Project, has begun injecting rhino horns with radioactive isotopes as a means to combat rampant poaching in the country. This project, launched by the University of the Witwatersrand, aims to make rhino horns detectable through existing radiation detectors at airports and border crossings, similar to systems used for detecting smuggled nuclear materials. Five rhinos were injected as part of this launch, which is anticipated to expand to a larger scale across the country's dwindling rhino population, currently estimated at around 27,000, according to HuffPost, NPR, BBC, and Africanews.

According to the scientists, this process is completely safe for the animals involved. James Larkin, chief scientific officer of the Rhisotope Project, stated that extensive tests have shown the radioactive material does not harm the rhinos. He emphasized, “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,” according to HuffPost, NPR, and BBC.

This novel method not only aims to deter poaching but also introduces harsher penalties for offenders caught trafficking radioactive materials. The initiative has gained traction from both conservationists and authorities, urging wildlife park owners to adopt this technology for their rhinos. Given the severe decline in rhino populations and the loss of about 500 rhinos annually in South Africa, the Rhisotope Project is posited as a potential game changer for wildlife conservation, as noted by HuffPost, Africanews, and BBC.