In a bold anti-poaching effort, South African scientists have begun injecting rhino horns with a harmless radioactive material. The initiative, known as the Rhisotope Project, was developed by the University of the Witwatersrand after six years of research costing around £220,000 ($290,000).

The radioactive material allows customs officers to detect smuggled horns, even inside large shipping containers, making it harder for traffickers to move them internationally. South Africa is home to the world’s largest rhino population, yet over 400 rhinos are poached each year, largely for their horns, which are in demand in Asian markets for traditional medicine and as a status symbol.

The pilot project involved 20 rhinos and proved that the process is completely safe for the animals. Professor James Larkin, leading the study, called it a “proactive” tool to slow poaching rates.

While campaigners stress it is not a complete solution, they believe it will disrupt illegal supply chains and provide valuable tracking data. Conservationist Jamie Joseph hailed the project as “innovative and much needed.”

With white rhinos threatened and black rhinos critically endangered, researchers hope this technology will help protect one of Africa’s most iconic and vulnerable species - and its natural heritage.