Why Scientists Are Injecting Rhinos With Radioactive Material

South Africa is home to thousands of rhinos, including the world's largest population of white rhinos and about half of the total black rhino population in Africa. Scientists and advocates have been working to protect them from poachers, and the latest effort could significantly put a dent in the thieves' plans. 

To deter poachers from taking rhinos' horns, scientists have started injecting radioactive material into them to make them easier to detect at border crossings. It's all a part of the Rhisotope project, which currently involves 20 live rhinos at an orphanage in Limpopo. 

James Larkin, the director of the University of the Witwatersrand's radiation and health physics unit who spearheaded the initiative, said he put "two tiny little radioactive chips in the horn" of every rhino, per CBS News. He noted that the rhinos were sedated and didn't feel any pain as the scientists did their work; it's also safe for the animal, as the amount of radioactive material is so low that it won't have any effect on the rhino or its environment. It's also built to last five years in there, making it a cheaper alternative to dehorning the animals every 18 months when they grow back. 

The project comes as efforts to combat poaching have seemingly proven ineffective; nearly 500 rhinos were killed in South Africa in 2023, an 11-percent increase from the year prior. Orphanage founder Arrie van Deventer is hopeful that this approach will be more effective at curbing poaching after things like dehorning them and poisoning the horns haven't worked. 

"Maybe this is the thing that will stop poaching," he said. "This is the best idea I've ever heard."