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South African rhino horns turned radioactive to fight poachers | South African rhino horns turned radioactive to fight poachers |
(about 5 hours later) | |
"This could be the holy grail:" Watch the Rhisotope team prepare to inject a rhino's horn with radioactive material | |
South African scientists have launched an anti-poaching campaign in which rhino's horns will be injected with a radioactive material. | South African scientists have launched an anti-poaching campaign in which rhino's horns will be injected with a radioactive material. |
The group, from the University of the Witwatersrand, said the process is harmless to rhinos but will allow customs officers to detect smuggled horns as they're transported across the world. | The group, from the University of the Witwatersrand, said the process is harmless to rhinos but will allow customs officers to detect smuggled horns as they're transported across the world. |
South Africa has the largest rhino population in the world, and hundreds of the animals are poached there every year. | South Africa has the largest rhino population in the world, and hundreds of the animals are poached there every year. |
The university's venture, called the Rhisotope Project, cost around £220,000 ($290,000) and involved six years of research and testing. | |
"At least one animal a day is still being poached," James Larkin, a Wits University professor involved in the project, told the BBC. | |
"I think the figures are only going to go one way if we don't watch out.... this is a significant tool to help reduce the numbers of poaching, because we're proactive rather than being reactive." | |
Prof Larkin added that the pilot study, which involved 20 rhinos, confirmed that the radioactive material was "completely safe" for the animals. | |
Jessica Babich, head of the Rhisotope Project, said: "Our goal is to deploy the Rhisotope technology at scale to help protect one of Africa's most iconic and threatened species." | |
"By doing so, we safeguard not just rhinos but a vital part of our natural heritage." | "By doing so, we safeguard not just rhinos but a vital part of our natural heritage." |
The Wits University researchers, who collaborated with the International Atomic Energy Agency, found that horns could even be detected inside full 40-foot (six-metre) shipping containers. | |
Each year since 2021, more than 400 rhinos have been poached in South Africa, says conservation charity Save the Rhino. | Each year since 2021, more than 400 rhinos have been poached in South Africa, says conservation charity Save the Rhino. |
The horns of African rhinos are often exported to Asian markets were they are used in traditional medicine and also seen as a status symbol. | The horns of African rhinos are often exported to Asian markets were they are used in traditional medicine and also seen as a status symbol. |
White rhinos are considered threatened, while black rhinos are critically endangered. | White rhinos are considered threatened, while black rhinos are critically endangered. |
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PODCAST: Women in South Africa and Zambia protect wildlife from poachers | PODCAST: Women in South Africa and Zambia protect wildlife from poachers |
Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. | Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. |
Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica | Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica |