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Impedir a caça ao rinoceronte infographic
A infografia mostra detalhes do Projeto Risótopo da África do Sul para limitar a caça furtiva ao rinoceronte.
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AMBIENTE

Tentativa para reduzir a caça furtiva ao rinoceronte

By Duncan Mil

June 28, 2024 - Investigadores da África do Sul injetaram material radioativo nos chifres de 20 rinocerontes no âmbito de um projeto para reduzir a caça furtiva detetando os chifres nas fronteiras nacionais.

After three years of work, the Rhisotope Project at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg has successfully inserted low doses of radioisotopes into 20 live rhinoceros.

“We are doing this because it makes it significantly easier to intercept these horns as they are being trafficked over international borders, because there is a global network of radiation monitors that have been designed to prevent nuclear terrorism,” said Professor James Larkin, who heads the project. “And we’re piggybacking on the back of that.”

Over 11,000 radiation detection portal monitors are installed at airports, harbours, and other ports of entry around the world.

According to figures from the International Union for Conservation of Nature, an international conservation body, the global rhino population stood at around 500,000 at the beginning of the 20th century. However, due to the persistent demand for rhino horns on the black market, this number has plummeted to around 27,000, underscoring the urgent need for innovative solutions like the Rhisotope Project.

Sources
PUBLISHED: 28/06/2024; STORY: Graphic News; PICTURES: Getty Images
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