New Radioactive Marking Strategy to Curb Rhino Poaching in South Africa

South African scientists are taking a bold new step to shield rhinos from relentless poaching. Their latest innovation: injecting rhino horns with radioactive material to deter illegal trafficking.

This pioneering move lets customs officials identify smuggled horns with basic radiation scanners anywhere in the world.

How does radioactive marking work?

The Rhisotope Project, based at the University of the Witwatersrand, is leading this anti-poaching effort. By injecting a small, safe amount of radioactive isotopes into horns, they create a built-in alarm system that can’t be seen with the naked eye but is easily picked up by scanners.

Years of research confirm the process is harmless for rhinos. These markers aid law enforcement in spotting horns hidden even within massive shipping containers.

Did you know?
Radioactive markers can be detected by standard radiation scanners in airports and ports anywhere in the world, making illicit rhino horn shipments much harder to hide.

Why is this strategy urgent?

South Africa is home to the world’s largest rhino population, but hundreds fall to poachers every year. Despite strict laws, demand for horns considered medicinal or luxurious fuels illegal trade across continents.

Traditional anti-poaching tools struggle to keep pace. By moving from reactive to proactive technology, the Rhisotope Project hopes to disrupt the criminal networks at a critical chokepoint: international transit.

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Collaboration and impact on wildlife crime

The initiative emerged from six years’ collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency. The pilot study, involving 20 rhinos, demonstrates the approach’s safety and effectiveness for both animals and authorities.

Conservation advocates welcome the innovation. But experts say marking alone cannot end the crisis. “It’s not the endgame; only better legislation and political will can bring an end to the rhino crisis,” says Jamie Joseph, director of Saving the Wild.

Protecting a natural heritage

Both white and black rhinos face grave threats, with the latter critically endangered. Since 2021, poachers have killed more than 400 rhinos annually in South Africa alone. Project leaders stress that scaling up radioactive marking could help preserve this iconic species for future generations.

By making smuggled horns nearly impossible to slip through international borders undetected, South Africa signals that fresh ideas and determined science have a vital role in wildlife protection.