The Rhisotope Project
The project was initiated in January 2020, set up to try and find an effective solution to the ever-present problem of rhino poaching that has reached epidemic levels in Southern Africa. Despite the very best efforts of dedicated teams and individuals to try and curb the poaching that goes on in the region the battle is slowly being lost.
The Rhisotope Project takes a very different approach to this problem and uses elements of nuclear security, radiation protection, medical physics, and other related nuclear science techniques to address the problem.
The idea itself is quite simple – insert small, measured quantities of radioactive material into the horns of rhinos. The potential results of this though are quite profound.
In the eyes of the end users, radioactively treated horn become significantly less desirable to possess.
Who wants to be treated with a medicine that is radioactive?
Who wants to receive a gift that might be radioactive?
Who wants to mix potentially radioactive horn into their hangover cure?
Rhino horn that has these small quantities of radioactive material in them are significantly easier to detect as they are moved across international borders.
Globally there are something like eleven thousand installed radiation monitors at many international border crossings, harbours, and airports. Along with these detectors many border and customs agents carry pager-type radiation detectors on their belts. Instantaneously we have gone from only several hundred people globally who must actively search for illicit wildlife trafficking, to many thousands of people and places that are searching all the time for radioactive material as part of their everyday jobs.
This radically improves the chances of rhino horn being detected and seized. This will then put any other contraband being smuggled with the horn at risk of being seized too. The ‘icing on the cake’? those people detained with radioactive horn in their possession are then liable to be charged with terrorism offences along with the illicit wildlife trafficking offences. More jail time and bigger fines if they are convicted.
Less demand combined with a much greater risk of being caught will then lead to a reduction in the poaching.
Rhino poaching is carried out by organised international syndicates who are involved in more than just rhino poaching. If we can change the reward/risk ratio in the minds of these organisations; that it’s no longer worth their while being involved in trafficking of rhino horn because the risk of being caught is too great, and the return is too small because of lower demand. They will move onto more lucrative and less risky enterprises.
Another concept from nuclear security that is used in this project is that of “defence in depth” and this is where the social upliftment and education parts of the project come in. By making people in the vicinity of the parks where we are working ‘rhino ambassadors’ who understand the value of these animals to their own lives, we can create the very first line of defence. To this end The Rhisotope Project has developed and will implement several educational and social upliftment projects aimed particularly at women and female learners. Thus, we come to expression.
SCIENCE SAVING RHINOS | PEOPLE SAVING RHINOS | RHINOS SAVING PEOPLE