Rhinos are not negatively affected by the radiation
What happens when you give a rhinoceros a radioactive substance?
You might imagine a superpower like Spider-Man or Hulk.
But when a group of rhinos in South Africa were recently tagged with a radioactive material, they didn’t transform or start glowing green.
By inserting radioactive material into the rhinos’ horns, scientists found a way to help catch people who illegally try to sell them.
It’s called the Rhisotope Project and it’s a new way that scientists are using nuclear technology to protect rhinos.
Watch this video to learn more ⬇️⬇️⬇️:
What are poachers?
Poachers are people who illegally hunt animals.
Poachers hunt rhinos for their horns, which are bought by people who want to show off their wealth and sometimes for traditional Chinese medicine.
According to James Larkin, the chief scientific officer of the Rhisotope Project, there is a large international criminal network involving the illegal trade of rhino horns.
Larkin told CBC’s As it Happens that a rhino horn can fetch as much as $60,000 US ($82,000 Cdn) on the black market.
Poachers cut the horns off of rhinos, which is harmful and often fatal for the animals.
Most species of rhinos are endangered or at risk of being endangered, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Overall, the total world population of rhinos has been increasing in the last few years thanks to conservation efforts. (Image credit: International Rhino Foundation)
Currently, there are around 28,000 rhinos in the world, mostly in South Africa.
That’s a sharp decline from the estimated 500,000 rhinos that roamed the Earth in the early 1900s.
Poaching and habitat loss are the leading causes of the rhino’s decline. Around 500 rhinos are poached every year in South Africa.
Using his expertise in radiology, Larkin said he was determined to find a humane solution to this problem.
How the Rhisotope Project prevents poaching
Larkin worked with a team of scientists from the University of Witwatersrand in 2019 to study and develop a safe way to embed radioactive materials into rhino horns.
The idea is that radiation detectors at airports, borders and seaports will detect the radioactive materials in the rhino horns when they are being moved illegally.
“Think of it like a very bright light that you can’t turn off,” Larkin said.
“We can’t see it, but the detectors can. Even if it’s hidden in a large shipping container.”
There are around 10,000 of these detectors already in place around the world, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which partnered with Larkin on the project.
Does radiation hurt rhinos?
In 2024, scientists with the Rhisotope Project tested the idea on 20 rhinos.
Using blood tests and veterinary inspections, the project’s research showed that rhinos weren’t negatively affected by the small amount of radiation in their horns.
A rhino being prepared for the procedure by James Larkin inside the Unesco Waterberg Biosphere in South Africa. (Image credit: University of Witswatersrand)
“It’s normal for animals, including humans, to be exposed to radiation on a daily basis,” said Jamie Noël, a chemistry professor at Western University in London, Ont., who works with radioactive materials.
“Your body actually has biological mechanisms to repair radiation damage, as long as it’s a low level.”
This past summer, the Rhisotope project was officially launched for operational status.
That means conservationists and owners can now reach out to the Rhisotope team and request their rhino to be tagged with the radioactive material.
Larkin hopes that this technology can be used in the future to protect other animals that are vulnerable to poaching, like elephants and pangolins.
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With files from CBC Radio