South African scientists launched an anti-poaching campaign in which the horns of rhino will be injected into radioactive material.
The team from Witwaterslan University said the process is harmless to rhino but will allow customs personnel to discover smuggled corners when transporting around the world.
South Africa is the largest rhino population in the world, where hundreds of animals are poached every year.
After six years of research and testing, the university’s adventure, called the Rhisotope Project, kicked off Friday.
“Our goal is to deploy track jump technology at scale to help protect one of Africa’s most iconic and threatening species,” said Jessica Babich, project leader at Rhisotope.
“In doing so, we not only protect the rhino, but also an important part of our natural heritage.”
Tests conducted in a pilot study involving 20 species of rhino confirmed that radioactive substances are harmless to animals.
“We have proven that this process is completely safe for animals and that the horn can be detected effectively through the international customs nuclear safety system,” said James Larkin, a professor at Wits University.
WITS University researchers, who worked with the International Atomic Energy Agency, found that Horns can even be detected throughout the 40-foot (six-meter) transport container.
The protection charity “Save Rhino” says that since 2021, more than 400 rhinos have poached in South Africa every year.
The horns of African rhino are usually exported to Asian markets and are also considered as status symbols if they are used in traditional medicine.
The white rhino is considered threatened, while the black rhino is seriously threatened.
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