South Africa’s Radioactive Rhino Horns: A Bold Yet Flawed Anti-Poaching Tactic

In an ambitious effort to protect the dwindling rhinoceros population in South Africa, a coalition of scientists and conservationists has begun injecting rhino horns with radioactive isotopes. The technique, promoted as harmless to the animals yet detectable by customs agents worldwide, is designed to deter poachers by tagging horns at the source. But beneath this high-tech veneer lies a complex challenge that reflects broader issues of international wildlife trafficking and border enforcement—issues that carry direct consequences for American sovereignty and security. Will Technology Deter Well-Funded Poachers or Simply Shift the Black Market? The initiative led by the University of the...