Rhino horns turned radioactive to fight poachers in South Africa

August 1, 2025

South African officials are fighting back against rhino poachers with a bold new approach: making the horns radioactive. The program, which involves injecting the horns with a radioactive liquid called Rhodium-105, is a collaboration between the government and a local university. It aims to deter poachers and make it easier to track illegal activity. The process is safe for the rhinos and has already proven effective in several poaching hotspots. This innovative approach provides a crucial new tool in the ongoing battle against wildlife crime.