Rhisotope Project

The University of the Witwatersrand, with support from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has formally launched the Rhisotope Project, an innovative conservation initiative aimed at combating the severe poaching of rhinos in South Africa. The project involves injecting rhino horns with low doses of radioactive isotopes to make them detectable and undesirable to traffickers.

Project Details and Methodology

• The Problem: The global rhino population has plummeted from 500,000 to 27,000, with South Africa losing over 10,000 rhinos to poaching in the last decade. Rhino horns are trafficked to Asian markets for use in traditional medicine and as a status symbol.
• The Solution: The Rhisotope Project uses a non-invasive procedure to tag rhino horns with low-dose radioactive isotopes. The specific isotopes and dosage are carefully selected to be harmless to the rhinos.
• Detection: This low-level radiation can be detected by existing Radiation Portal Monitors (RPMs) already deployed at international borders, ports, and airports to detect unauthorized nuclear materials. This leverages existing nuclear security infrastructure for a new purpose—wildlife conservation.
• Testing and Safety: Over a six-year research period, the project conducted rigorous testing, including a pilot phase in which 20 rhinos were treated. The researchers used 3D-printed rhino horns to simulate real-world conditions and confirmed that a single horn could be detected inside a full 40-foot shipping container. Cytological examinations by Ghent University in Belgium confirmed that the procedure is safe for the animals and causes no cellular damage.
• Deterrence: The project aims to make the horns “useless” and “poisonous” to humans. Because the horns are radioactive, they become worthless in illicit markets. Furthermore, anyone handling the horns would be exposed to radiation, potentially leading to criminal prosecution under anti-terrorism laws.