Going nuclear to save the rhino
Nuclear tech targets rhino poachers
After years of outsmarting anti-poaching efforts, rhino horn traffickers may finally meet their match – and it's coming from an unlikely source: nuclear science.
A pioneering anti-poaching project that uses radioactive markers to render rhino horns traceable and effectively worthless to traffickers has entered its first real-world phase.
Developed by South Africa’s University of the Witwatersrand, in partnership with global experts and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Rhisotope Project has officially moved from research to real-world implementation.
Scientists have developed a method that uses radioactive isotopes to make rhino horns detectable, and essentially worthless, on the black market.
This radical approach is designed to deter poachers by tagging rhino horns with traceable radioactive material, making them easy to identify at international borders using existing radiation detection systems.
According to a statement from Wits University, the Rhisotope Project entered its operational phase in mid-2025, following years of laboratory testing, live trials and international consultation.
Going nuclear on poachers
A key advantage of the project, the university added, is its reliance on existing nuclear security infrastructure. According to IAEA, more than 10 000 radiation monitors are already in operation globally.
“For the first time, we have used nuclear science not only to fight crime, but to protect a critically endangered species. This could change everything for rhino conservation,” said Professor James Larkin, the project’s lead scientist.
IAEA praised the initiative for its innovation and practical impact.
Director general Rafael Mariano Grossi noted that the project “shows how peaceful nuclear technology can be repurposed for environmental and species protection.”
With its safety and feasibility proven, the Rhisotope Project is now inviting game reserves, private rhino owners and conservation agencies to participate in expanding the programme.
While the current focus is on rhinos, there is growing interest in applying the same technology to other trafficked species, such as elephants and pangolins. Researchers are already exploring how different isotopes could be safely embedded into tusks, scales or other high-value animal parts.
Safety tests successful
Earlier this year, researchers treated 20 rhinos in a protected area within the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve as part of the trial phase.
The goal was to ensure the method was not only effective in deterring trafficking but also safe for the animals.
Following extensive biological assessments, including blood tests and DNA analysis, scientists confirmed that the procedure had no adverse health effects on the rhinos.
The treated horns, now containing a small amount of radioactive material, were successfully detected by radiation portal monitors used at airports and shipping ports worldwide, the statement said.
Developed by South Africa’s University of the Witwatersrand, in partnership with global experts and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Rhisotope Project has officially moved from research to real-world implementation.
Scientists have developed a method that uses radioactive isotopes to make rhino horns detectable, and essentially worthless, on the black market.
This radical approach is designed to deter poachers by tagging rhino horns with traceable radioactive material, making them easy to identify at international borders using existing radiation detection systems.
According to a statement from Wits University, the Rhisotope Project entered its operational phase in mid-2025, following years of laboratory testing, live trials and international consultation.
Going nuclear on poachers
A key advantage of the project, the university added, is its reliance on existing nuclear security infrastructure. According to IAEA, more than 10 000 radiation monitors are already in operation globally.
“For the first time, we have used nuclear science not only to fight crime, but to protect a critically endangered species. This could change everything for rhino conservation,” said Professor James Larkin, the project’s lead scientist.
IAEA praised the initiative for its innovation and practical impact.
Director general Rafael Mariano Grossi noted that the project “shows how peaceful nuclear technology can be repurposed for environmental and species protection.”
With its safety and feasibility proven, the Rhisotope Project is now inviting game reserves, private rhino owners and conservation agencies to participate in expanding the programme.
While the current focus is on rhinos, there is growing interest in applying the same technology to other trafficked species, such as elephants and pangolins. Researchers are already exploring how different isotopes could be safely embedded into tusks, scales or other high-value animal parts.
Safety tests successful
Earlier this year, researchers treated 20 rhinos in a protected area within the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve as part of the trial phase.
The goal was to ensure the method was not only effective in deterring trafficking but also safe for the animals.
Following extensive biological assessments, including blood tests and DNA analysis, scientists confirmed that the procedure had no adverse health effects on the rhinos.
The treated horns, now containing a small amount of radioactive material, were successfully detected by radiation portal monitors used at airports and shipping ports worldwide, the statement said.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article