Current Affairs - International - Discussion

South Africa launched the innovative Rhisotope Project through the University of the Witwatersrand to tackle the persistent issue of rhino poaching. The initiative involves injecting small amounts of radioactive isotopes into rhino horns, making them traceable and less attractive to poachers and smugglers. The project is supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and was piloted on five rhinos at the Waterberg Biosphere Reserve. The use of radioisotopes not only allows for easier tracking of illicit wildlife trade but also introduces health and legal risks for traffickers, thereby creating a powerful deterrent against poaching.