Scientists hope to bring radioactive anti-rhino poaching project to KZN

It involves injecting radioactive material into the animals' horns.

The Rhisotope Project initiative, which started on Tuesday, is already being rolled out at a rhino orphanage in Limpopo.

It was conceptualised by Wits Professor James Larkin three years ago.

He says it initially seemed like a crazy idea. 

Larkin explains there are two main reasons for this approach, one of which is the devaluing of the horn to discourage its use in traditional medicine or as a status symbol.

"By making the horn radioactive, it means it improves the chances of us being able to detect those horns as it moves across international boundaries."

Larkin says they've successfully inserted low doses of radioisotopes into the horns of 20 live rhinos. 

Small holes were made in the horns to insert the non-toxic material. 

For the next six months, the rhinos will be monitored to determine the viability of the approach.

He says for many years, there have been global efforts to use radiation detectors to prevent nuclear terrorism.

"We are using those same systems to help us prevent illicit wildlife trafficking, and this is something that sparked the imagination of some people in the international energy agency, who have put up the funding to help us do this research so that International harbours, airports and things like that have these sophisticated detection systems which may pick up radioactivity. 

“So we thought, let’s use that to prevent wildlife trafficking, particularly rhino horn."  

Listen to Newswatch reporter Lauren Hendricks's full interview with Larkin about The Rhisotope Project initiative below:

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