South African scientists have begun injecting rhino horns with a harmless radioactive substance to combat poaching. The £220,000 (US$290,000) Rhisotope Project allows customs officers to detect smuggled horns, even in shipping containers. Despite over 400 rhinos poached annually, experts believe this innovative method can disrupt illegal trade routes, while broader political action remains crucial to saving these threatened species.
The rhinoceros is one of the largest animals on Earth. It's also one of the most critically endangered. There are currently less than 27,000 of these magnificent creatures left in the wild, with a subspecies, the northern white rhino, sadly set for extinction. Poaching and habitat loss are the principal causes behind the rhino's alarming decline. But public awareness initiatives are helping to publicize the vital work undertaken by conservation organizations based in Africa and Asia in helping to safeguard rhinos and expand their populations.
So, how much do you know about this extraordinary animal? And why has it been hunted so mercilessly? Click through and find out why we should care about the rhinoceros.