Planet Earth has been home to rhinoceroses for millions of years—one of its oldest giants still walking today, albeit with an uncertain future. While the most extreme natural disasters failed to bring this species to the brink of extinction, humans have. Estimates suggest that at the beginning of the 20th century, around half a million rhinos inhabited Europe, Asia, and Africa. Today, only about 27,000 remain in the wild, mostly within national parks and reserves.
Although habitat loss is considered one of the main causes of the rhino population decline, intensive poaching poses a particularly grave threat. Rhino horns are highly valued on the black market, making them a common target of illegal trade. Their use in traditional medicine and as a status symbol further fuels demand.
The Rhisotope Project – Nuclear Science in Service of Rhino Conservation
While some efforts in recent decades have yielded positive results in protecting certain rhino species, the threat persists. In search of new ways to combat poaching, science is stepping up. The Rhisotope Project, through a unique scientific approach, uses radioisotopes to make rhino horns less desirable and harder to trade.
It may sound a bit frightening, but scientists offer a clear explanation. By carefully injecting a small, controlled amount of radioactive isotopes into the horns of live rhinos, the method remains completely safe for the animals. The horn becomes radioactive to a level that is not dangerous to humans or other animals, but it does pose a high risk to smugglers and traders. How? Borders are equipped with detectors that measure radioactivity, significantly increasing the chances of traffickers being caught.
In this way, the Rhisotope Project directly contributes to reducing poaching and also plays an important role in educating and supporting local communities living near rhino habitats.
Wildlife crime is one of the four largest black markets, along with drug, human, and arms trafficking.
So far, 30 live rhinos at two locations have undergone the injection process through the Rhisotope Project. The goal is to protect a total of 180 rhinos by the end of 2025.
The project has received approval from the Animal Research Ethics Committee (AREC), in accordance with the University of the Witwatersrand.
The fight to save rhinos is a symbol of a much broader struggle—for the preservation of nature, biodiversity, and the health of our planet. Every rhino saved is a victory against the destructive impact of humans. The message of this project is clear: people should benefit from live, not dead, rhinos.
Katarina Vuinac
