2024-07-31 07:40:53
A rhino conservation project in South Africa pioneered the incorporation of radioactive isotopes into their horns to save them from poaching.
radioactive horns
he Rhizotop Projectin which the Texas A&M Universities, State of Colorado y Witwatersrand, which involves inserting a radioactive source into the horns of rhinos to discourage poaching. Since radioactive rhino horns would be less attractive to consumers, they are less attractive to poachers.
In addition, the radioisotope They could be detected at ports of entry with existing radiation detection technology, making it easier to find the horns if they are traded internationally, according to James Larkin, a professor at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, the South Africa.
Finding that sweet spot where the dose was small enough not to harm the animal, but large enough to trigger a detector
The idea came about when Larkin collaborated with people looking for ways to make rhino horns less attractive to poachers. As a radiation professional, Larkin thought that radioactive isotopes could be useful.
“It was one of three thoughts this morning: What happens if I put a small amount in the horn?“Larkin said in a statement.
Safe for rhinos
In 2020, Larkin met Jessica Babich, anthropologist and consultant of the sector, who could present this idea to the conservation community. “It’s about science saving rhinos, rhinos saving people and people saving rhinos – a beautiful trilogy of possibilities and success,” said Babich, who became the chief operating officer of the Rhizotop Project.
Both Hillis and Larkin investigated what level of radioactive material would be safe for a rhinoceros. They worked independently using different approaches to validate each other’s results.
The project includes a total of 20 rhinos to be monitored to ensure that the radioisotopes are not harmful
Hillis created a detailed computational model of a rhinoceros head and calculated potential doses. He is currently publishing the results of the project, which includes a total of 20 rhinos being monitored to ensure the radioisotopes are not harmful.
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