A Novel way to curb poaching, injecting radioisotopes into 20 live rhinoceros

Unfortunately by the time this detects a piece of ivory, the damage is already done. If it took 3 years to inject 20 rhinos, it's unlikely that a large enough portion of the population could be injected to act as an effective deterrent for those actually killing the animals. Even for those actually involved in moving the ivory, it's only a deterrent if they actually face consequences at these borders - many states have weak enforcement of anti-ivory laws, and many more have bribable customs agents. Further, ivory has a value to weight ratio that is extremely conducive to smuggling.

By comparison, infusion which puts a dye and an anti-consumption toxin in the horns to render the ivory worthless and thus prevent the animals from being killed in the first place is a well developed and inexpensive process that has proven effective.[0] I don't see how radioisotope injection is an improvement.

[0] https://rhinorescueproject.org/how-it-works/

> Over 11 000 radiation detection portal monitors are installed at airports, harbours and other ports of entry, including thousands of trained personnel equipped with radiation detectors, all of which can detect the smallest radioactive particles.

I didn’t realize this. Injecting small, safe radioactive material into rhino horns seems like an incredibly good hack: turn all that nuclear monitoring equipment into poached animal artifact detectors.

So they have to tranquilize the rhinos first. That in itself can kill the animal.

I can't find a reference, but that reminds me of an old project to dye rhino horns pink. Sadly, a few rhinos didn't survive the process.

> Every 20 hours in South Africa a rhino dies for its horn.

I didn't know this statistic before - this is disheartening.

I wonder what radioisotopes they’re using. I assume it’s a gamma emitter because alpha and beta would be readily absorbed by the horn and any packaging material?

Speaking as a South African, I hope this can make a difference, every little bit helps.

Unless it can completely stop poaching (which on its own I think is unlikely) I don't think it will solve the fundamental issue that drives poaching, that there is a market willing to pay exorbitant fees.

Ivory has zero physiological medicinal effects, but their rareness convinces certain kinds of (shithead) people that they "must". The rarer the material, the more "special" it becomes, driving up the price further and the higher the price, the more emboldened the poachers become.

I see that it doesn't bother anyone else that "novel" is capitalized for no reason in the title of the article (the actual article, not just the HN title). So be it, I'll see myself out.

At first I thought this was some sort of joke or satire, like the Alameda-Weehawken burrito pipeline. Then I read the bit about rhino horn trafficking and I was like... well, shoot, that's actually a pretty good idea!

This is genius, but what stops the poachers from removing the material?

> Starting on Monday, 24 June 2004, Professor Larkin and his team carefully sedated the 20 rhinos

Is that a typo? I'd think after 20 years we'd know if the plan worked.

I wonder if anyone is trying to lab-grow ivory like they're trying with organs, considering ivory's price there might be margin there.

Isn't it detected by a cheap geiger counter ? in this case the horn will be just discarded after the rhino jas been killed

This looks like a side project for one of the fake meat companies.

Which „non-toxic radioisotopes“ and how much is a small hole?

So they are going to put small ammounts of radioactive stuff in the horns of live Rhinos so that they are easier to detect at border patrols? Have I understood it right? Seems a little extreme to be honest.

Scientists need to stop mucking with nature. First the "edible vaccines" genetic modification, and now this? I'd rather live in a world where agencies don't have absolute control over us. Perfect enforcement doesn't need to exist.