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Tracking poachers — how nuclear technology could transform rhino conservation

Tracking poachers — how nuclear technology could transform rhino conservation
Mapimpi, a white rhino part of the Rhisotope pilot project, was named after the Springbok player because when he arrived at the rhino orphanage at one week old, he wouldn’t stop running. (Photo: Julia Evans)
Julia Evans
By Julia Evans
30 Jun 2024
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Last week, 20 black and white rhinos went nuclear after radioisotopes were inserted into their horns in a novel approach to anti-poaching. This tiny bead of radioactive material can help increase the capability to detect smuggled horns, increase prosecution success, reveal smuggling routes and deter end-user markets.

‘I’ve spent 25 years trying to persuade people that radiation is not that harmful – and failed catastrophically,” said Professor James Larkin, the radiation and health physics unit director at Wits University. 

So instead, he decided to use that natural aversion to nuclear technology to his advantage – in the last place you’d expect: saving rhinos.

Larkin was standing a few metres from a group of young southern white rhinos in the Unesco Waterberg Biosphere Reserve in Limpopo on Tuesday, part of the first group of rhinos in the world to have nuclear technology inserted into their horns.

This innovative solution to deter poachers comes from the Rhisotope Project at Wits that started in 2021 and has received research funding from the university and the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Larkin started this research project three years ago when he realised they could use nuclear technology – in the form of small, measured quantities of radioisotopes inserted into the horns – to not only devalue the horn in the eyes of the end user by using fear of nuclear technology, but to create a novel tracking device.

“We use that [radioisotope] as a tracking device, if you like, to have an ideal detection system moving between international borders,” he said. 


The final stages of the research project came to fruition last week when low doses of radioisotopes were inserted into 20 live black and white rhinos from the Rhino Orphanage.

The radioisotope can be picked up at the more than 11,000 radiation detection portal monitors installed at airports, harbours and other ports of entry. Border and customs agents are also routinely equipped with handheld monitors, all of which can detect the smallest radioactive particles.

As a result, this tiny bead of radioactive material can help increase the capability to detect smuggled horns, increase prosecution success, reveal smuggling routes and deter end-user markets.

These white rhinos were part of the first group of 20 rhinos to receive radioisotopes, as part of the Rhisotope Project, on 25 June 2024. (Photo: Julia Evans)



Professor James Larkin, the radiation and health physics unit director at Wits University, at the site of the final phase of the Rhisotope research project in Limpopo on 25 June 2024. (Photo: Julia Evans)



rhino nuclear White rhinos that were part of the first group of 20 black and white rhinos to receive radioisotopes. (Photo: Julia Evans)



In contrast, the infrastructure and number of trained officials to detect wildlife trafficking at ports of entry internationally are highly limited. 

“These poached horns are trafficked across the world and used for traditional medicines or as status symbols,” Larkin said. “This has led to their horns currently being the most valuable false commodity in the black-market trade, with a higher value even than gold, platinum, diamonds and cocaine.” 

The Wildlife Justice Commission estimates that over the past decade the potential gross illicit income generated from the wholesale trade of raw rhino horn was between $874-million and $1.13-billion.

​​Rhino poaching reached crisis levels in 2008 when close to 10,000 rhinos were lost to poaching in South Africa. Jessica Babich, chief operations officer at the Rhisotope Project, said wildlife trafficking is the third-biggest organised crime globally, neck-and-neck with drugs, and behind weapons.

“At the moment it’s very porous. If a rhino horn gets taken, it can get out in various ways, but it still has to pass through various global ports of entry,” said Babich.

“But when you consider that there’s over 11,000 radiation detection monitors around the world, it is not as easy to get that horn across the globe.”

Larkin, who is also the past chairperson of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the International Nuclear Security Education Network, explained to Daily Maverick that there’s an existing international network of radiation monitors, established to prevent nuclear terrorism, that will detect radioisotopes.

“We are piggybacking on that system, so we don't need to train anybody because the standard operating procedures are already in place,” he said.

Beckham, a six-year-old, 1.7-tonne white rhino from the Rhino Orphanage, before waking from light sedation after receiving a radioisotope. (Photo: Julia Evans)



Larkin said the entire nuclear protocol is administered under the  International Atomic Energy Agency, which member states (including South Africa) are required to follow.

Plus, Babich and Larkin explained that if you are caught with radioactive material illegally in South Africa, it’s classified as a crime against the state, and that would carry a much heftier fine and penalty, making it not worth it for the traffickers. 

“We’re trying to reduce poaching, but in the event that one does [poach a rhino] we’re changing it from low risk, high reward, to high risk, low reward,” said Babich.

Members of the Rhino Orphanage team and wildlife veterinarian Dr Pierre Bester help to get a rhino into a lying position after being sedated so that the Rhisotope team can insert radioisotopes into its horn. (Photo: Julia Evans)



Professor James Larkin from Wits University drills a hole into the horn in preparation for the insertion of the radioisotope. (Photo: Julia Evans)



Professor James Larkin inserts a tiny radioisotope into the rhino’s horn. (Photo: Julia Evans)


Is it too late?


Some conservation experts were sceptical of this technique’s deterrent ability – much like the horn poisoning of some years ago – because if the horn is detected later in transit, the rhino is already dead.

Larkin explained that catching them at the border is the second-best option. The ideal is that the fear of radiation will act as the deterrent, reducing the demand from the end user, and not making it worth the risk for the poacher.

“The deterrent is that people don’t like things that are radioactive,” he said.

“If we sensitise the world to the fact that the African rhino horns are quite possibly radioactive, they’re going to say, well, you know, I don’t want it as a trophy.”

Babich explained with the combination of media and philanthropic campaigns, the poachers will know not to bother coming because the chances of getting caught are much higher.

Jessica Babich, environmental anthropologist and chief operations officer at the Rhisotope Project, guides a rhino in the Waterberg. (Photo: Julia Evans)


No harm to rhino


Last week, Larkin and his team carefully sedated the 20 rhinos and drilled a small hole into each of their horns to insert the non-toxic radioisotopes. The rhinos were then released under the care of a highly qualified crew that will monitor the animals on a 24-hour basis for the next six months.

“Each insertion was closely monitored by expert veterinarians and extreme care was taken to prevent any harm to the animals,” Larkin said. “Over months of research and testing we have also ensured that the inserted radioisotopes hold no health or any other risk for the animals or those who care for them.”     

In the first phase of the research project, Larkin used stable compounds that were not radioactive and proved that there was no movement of that compound from the horn into the body or soft tissue of the animal. 

Then Larkin used computer modelling and laboratory-based measurements done on phantoms (full-scale models of the rhino’s head which are carefully made to simulate exposure conditions) to come up with the appropriate quantity for the radioisotope.

“Based on those findings, [Larkin] was then able to work with sophisticated software, and other nuclear experts around the world, to make sure the dosages are just right so that there’s no harm to the animal, but specific in that if it goes through any radiation detection portal monitor around the world, it will trigger that, even if it is buried in the middle of a huge consignment,” Babich said.

“Research on animals from areas around Chernobyl and Fukushima show that this will have no harmful effect on the animals,” the Rhisotope project said. “The dose levels being considered for use in this project are only slightly higher than the upper end of what people are exposed to by background radiation that occurs from naturally radioactive elements in the Earth and from the cosmos.”

A black (left) and white rhino, who grew up together at a rhino orphanage in Limpopo, had radioisotopes inserted into their horns to combat poaching on 25 June 2024. (Photo: Julia Evans)



Members of the Rhino Orphanage team help get a sedated white rhino into position so that radioisotopes can be inserted into its horn. (Photo: Julia Evans)



Robyn is the second black rhino in the world to receive radioactive material in her horn. (Photo: Julia Evans)


A new layer of protection 


“This isn’t a silver bullet,” Babich added, “this isn’t going to the world saying we’ve solved the poaching problem. 

“We’re saying we are bringing in a technology to add as an additional layer – hopefully it becomes very successful to the point where people no longer need to dehorn rhinos.”

Dehorning has seen major success in some reserves, such as the Sabi Sand Nature Reserve on the eastern boundary of the Kruger National Park. For instance, Sabi Sand and its two immediate neighbours, the Sabie and MalaMala game reserves, have lost just three rhinos to poachers since their dehorning initiative began in 2022, compared with their peak of 40 poaching incidents in one month. 

Sabi Sand manager Iain Olivier previously told Daily Maverick that they haven’t seen behavioural abnormalities that would outweigh the benefits of reducing poaching.

Babich emphasised that this isn’t about judging other conservation methods. “You do what you have to do to protect your animals, end of story,” she said, explaining that they want to introduce a viable alternative. 

This alternative has many benefits, and by keeping the horn, it’s less stressful for the animal and the people involved. The whole treatment of inserting a radioisotope, from immobilisation to drilling and insertion, takes just 10 minutes. Treating one animal costs R25,000 and provides radiological protection for five years, which is more affordable than many other anti-poaching measures.

Mapimpi, a white rhino who is part of the Rhisotope pilot project, was named after Springbok Makazole Mapimpi because when he arrived at the rhino orphanage at one week old he wouldn’t stop running. (Photo: Julia Evans)


Rhinos saving people


The day the media visited the Waterberg, the African proverb, “empty stomachs have no ears”, floated around conversations with journalists and conservation experts. In this context, it is key to remember that people who are concerned about putting food on the table don’t have the capacity to listen to the benefits of wildlife conservation. 

Part of Babich’s work as an environmental anthropologist is to ensure that communities living in and around rhino populations and wildlife spaces also benefit from the philanthropic funding that goes towards conservation.

She is passionate about “people saving rhinos, and rhinos saving people”.

“In wild spaces like this, this is everybody’s home and we do not want the criminals to infiltrate with weapons, guns and drugs because then we don’t have a safe community anymore,” she said.

Babich explained that the rhino acts as an ambassador species, where, through philanthropic campaigns for rhino conservation, communities can also benefit and receive resources.

“We change the dynamic so that the rhino becomes their saviour in daily life, and not as a desperate need because they’re being forced into that bracket by criminals,” she said.

The Rhisotope Project seeks to provide education and social upliftment to empower people and local communities. Its focus is on uplifting the girls and women of rural communities, who are often the backbone of these communities in remote areas where endangered species are found.

The nuclear impact


When asked what this day means to her, three years in the making, and many more years witnessing the impact that poaching has had on animals and communities, Babich paused and said: “It’s… very emotional.

“Because we are pioneering something here that we truly believe is going to make a difference. And this beautiful Biosphere Reserve is one of the most extraordinary wilderness areas that is the home to an incredibly important rhino population. I believe it’s part of my purpose.”

Behind her, a four-year-old white rhino called Mapimpi was stretching and waking up from his light sedation after becoming nuclear.

Mapimpi arrived at the rhino orphanage when he was just one week old, after his mother was brutally killed by poachers in a North West park. A rhino carer from the orphanage told us he was named after Springbok rugby player Makazole Mapimpi, because when he arrived he wouldn’t stop running.

Four years later, Mapimpi still has that playful and resilient spirit, and now a tiny bead of nuclear material embedded in his horn that might just save his life. DM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REeWvTRUpMk

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