<p>South African scientists are studying ways to inject radioactive material into rhino horns to make them easier to detect at border posts, a move to discourage poaching, a researcher said on Friday.</p>.<p>Poachers killed at least 249 rhinos in South Africa during the first six months of the year -- 83 more than in the first half of 2020.</p>.<p>The animals are slaughtered for their horns, which are smuggled into Asia where they are highly prized for traditional and medicinal purposes.</p>.<p>Injecting rhino horns with a small amount of radioactive material might deter poachers by making smuggling easier to detect, said James Larkin, a nuclear researcher at the University of the Witwatersrand.</p>.<p>More than 11,000 radiation detectors are installed at ports and airports around the world, he told a webinar hosted by the World Nuclear Association.</p>.<p>Border agents often have handheld radiation detectors that could also detect the contraband, he added.</p>.<p>"We can radically increase the army of people who are capable of intercepting these horns... to push back against the smugglers," Larkin explained.</p>.<p>Two rhinos have already been injected with a non-radioactive isotope to ensure the material will not travel into their bodies or cause health problems for the animals or humans.</p>.<p>Computer modelling will then help determine what dose is appropriate for rhinos. A model rhino head will be built with a 3D printer to test the doses before the trial moves to real rhinos.</p>.<p>The programme, called The Rhisotope Project, has backing from Russia's state-owned nuclear company Rosatom, as well as researchers in the United States and Australia.</p>
<p>South African scientists are studying ways to inject radioactive material into rhino horns to make them easier to detect at border posts, a move to discourage poaching, a researcher said on Friday.</p>.<p>Poachers killed at least 249 rhinos in South Africa during the first six months of the year -- 83 more than in the first half of 2020.</p>.<p>The animals are slaughtered for their horns, which are smuggled into Asia where they are highly prized for traditional and medicinal purposes.</p>.<p>Injecting rhino horns with a small amount of radioactive material might deter poachers by making smuggling easier to detect, said James Larkin, a nuclear researcher at the University of the Witwatersrand.</p>.<p>More than 11,000 radiation detectors are installed at ports and airports around the world, he told a webinar hosted by the World Nuclear Association.</p>.<p>Border agents often have handheld radiation detectors that could also detect the contraband, he added.</p>.<p>"We can radically increase the army of people who are capable of intercepting these horns... to push back against the smugglers," Larkin explained.</p>.<p>Two rhinos have already been injected with a non-radioactive isotope to ensure the material will not travel into their bodies or cause health problems for the animals or humans.</p>.<p>Computer modelling will then help determine what dose is appropriate for rhinos. A model rhino head will be built with a 3D printer to test the doses before the trial moves to real rhinos.</p>.<p>The programme, called The Rhisotope Project, has backing from Russia's state-owned nuclear company Rosatom, as well as researchers in the United States and Australia.</p>