Rhisotope Project | 28 Jun 2024

Source: TH

Why in News?

Recently, South African scientists injected radioactive material into live rhinoceros horns to make them easier to detect at border posts in a pioneering project aimed at curbing poaching.

What is the Rhisotope Project?

• About:
  • The Rhisotope Project commenced in 2021 and involves administering measured quantities of radioisotopes into the horns of live rhinos.
  • Under the project "two tiny little radioactive chips" were inserted into the horn of a rhinoceros. 
    • The radioisotopes make the horn "useless" and "poisonous for human consumption."
    • The project's final phase includes aftercare and follow-up blood samples to ensure the animals are protected, with the radioactive material lasting five years on the horn, proving more cost-effective than dehorning every 18 months.
  • This project aims to use nuclear science in a novel way for conservation.
  • This non-lethal yet powerful solution aims to radically reduce the demand from end-users and save rhinos from the very real threat of extinction.
• Impact: 
  • The procedure, performed on sedated rhinoceroses, is safe for the animals, with a radiation dose low enough not to affect their health or the environment.
  • Radioactively treated horns are more likely to be detected at international borders, making it more likely that smuggling syndicates are exposed, prosecuted and convicted under anti-terrorism laws.
• Need: 
  • Rhinoceros horns are highly valuable on black markets, with prices comparable to gold and cocaine.
  • Previous anti-poaching strategies like dehorning and poisoning horns have failed to deter poachers.
  • Despite government efforts, 499 rhinoceroses were killed in 2023, an 11% increase from 2022, primarily in state-run parks.