The Rhisotope Project: Using nuclear technology to help reduce the poaching of rhinoceros

South Africa is home to 80% of White and Black Rhinoceros populations. Over the past 150 years there has been a decline in these populations of nearly 95%, due in large part to habitat loss and poaching.

Current official rates of poaching sit at 3.2% per annum. If this number reaches 3.5% then there will be a catastrophic collapse in these populations to the point where there will no longer be any meaningful populations left in the wild.

Nuclear technology can offer a new tool to help prevent this happening. What if we were to make the horns of rhinoceros radioactive? Not to poison the end-user but rather to stop them wanting the horns in the first place.

Radiophobia is well known within the radiation protection community, how people generally radically overestimate the harm any dose might cause them. Why not use this fear against those who wish to possess rhinoceros horn to demonstrate their wealth or treat a hangover? Reduce the demand for horn and then the poaching will be reduced. No buyer–no poaching. The presence of the radioactivity also means that it is easier to detect horn that has been taken as it is moved across international borders and passes through installed radiation protection monitors.

In one simple operation the horn becomes less desirable, the risks to the smugglers increases, along with the potential penalties, and it no longer becomes necessary to dehorn these animals to ensure their continued existence.