What is Rhisotope Project?

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About Rhisotope Project:

It was started in 2021 in South Africa.
It aims to make the rhinoceros horns easier to detect at border posts and render them useless for human consumption.
The project involves inserting two tiny radioactive chips into the horns of 20 rhinos.
The low-dose radioactive material is designed to be detectable by radiation sensors at international borders without harming the animals or the environment.
The radioactive material is expected to last five years on the horn, making it a more cost-effective solution than dehorning every 18 months. Additionally, the team sprayed 11,000 microdots on each treated horn for further identification.
The team of scientists will take follow-up blood samples to ensure the rhinoceroses are effectively protected.
South Africa, home to the majority of the world’s rhinos, has been battling a poaching crisis driven by demand from Asia, where rhino horns are used in traditional medicine.

Q1: What is Radioactivity?

Radioactivity is the physical phenomenon of certain elements – such as uranium – of emitting energy in the form of radiation. This energy comes from the decay of an unstable nucleus.

Source: South African scientists make rhino horns radioactive to curb poaching