Scientific innovation offers new weapon against rhino poaching

By making rhino horns detectable and traceable, the Rhisotope Project aims to create a powerful deterrent for traffickers.

After six years of intensive research and testing, the Rhisotope Project has officially reached operational status—where rhinos will effectively be protected through nuclear technology.

The project aims to disrupt the illegal rhino horn trade by embedding low-level radioactive isotopes into the horn. These radioisotopes can be detected by radiation detection equipment at countries’ borders around the world, allowing for the effective interception of trafficked horns.

Six months ago, low levels of radioactive material were embedded into the horns of 20 rhinos living in the Unesco Waterberg Biosphere. Experimental results on the blood tests of the animals, as well as veterinary inspections have confirmed that the rhinos are unharmed by the radioisotope levels used. The project is led by researchers from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa (Wits University) in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

“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,” says Wits University professor James Larkin who is also the chief scientific officer of the Rhisotope Project.

No harm to rhinos

Using a technique known as biological dosimetry, researchers cultured blood samples and examined the formation of micronuclei in white blood cells—a proven indicator of cellular damage. No such damage was found in the 20 rhinos during the pilot phase.

Putting nuclear to good use

“This is just one example of how Wits University’s researchers work and think innovatively, stepping out of the clinical environments of their laboratories to bring bold, creative solutions to some of the world’s toughest challenges—often going above and beyond in their commitment to make a real difference,” says Professor Zeblon Vilakazi, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of Wits University.

The Rhisotope Project was launched to combat the high levels of illegal poaching of South Africa’s rhinos. Home to the largest population of the world’s rhinos, South Africa has been combating the illegal poaching of rhino horns for more than a decade, as this threatens to wipe out the already small population that is classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as “Near Threatened” White Rhino (Ceratotherium simum) and “Critically Endangered” Black Rhino (Diceros bicornis).

“This project exemplifies how nuclear science can be applied in novel ways to address global challenges,” says IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi. “By leveraging existing nuclear security infrastructure, we can help protect one of the world’s most iconic and endangered species.”

How it works

To test the system’s detection capability, researchers used 3D-printed rhino horns with identical shielding properties to real keratin (the organic material of which rhino horn is made).

“We simulated transport scenarios with the 3D-printed horns on carry-on luggage, air cargo shipments and priority parcel delivery systems and in each case, even a single horn with significantly lower levels of radioactivity than what will be used in practice successfully triggered alarms in radiation detectors,” explains Larkin.

The tests also confirmed that individual horns could be detected inside full 40-foot shipping containers.