A new research programme in Gabon is identifying the ‘isotopic fingerprint’ of the world’s most-trafficked mammal in the fight to beat smugglers
As the Philippines intensify efforts to combat illegal wildlife trade, organizers and participants of a three-day national conference on wildlife forensics held in Mandaue City in the middle of July have affirmed the need to enhance the country’s capacity in the application of science to pursue cases involving wildlife crime.…
NEW YORK — The cocker spaniel arrives at the animal hospital with a police officer, whimpering and shaking. He has a pus-filled pink socket for a left eye and is so skinny his spine and ribs show through his caramel-colored fur.
Top ten facts about wildlife trade from conservationist Dr. Susan Lieberman of the Wildlife Conservation Society.
Learn what it's like to be a forensic entomologist and use insect larvae to find the age of rotting "corpses" in this experiment from the SciFri Educator Collaborative.
When you’re out enjoying Iowa’s great outdoors, how often do you think to look down? One of the best ways for a burgeoning photographer, hunter or wildlife enthusiast to figure out what types of animals are around is to look for tracks.
Creating an EPIC Forensics course doesn't have to be hard! Learn my 5 "must try" strategies that are guarenteed to get your students excited about learning!
Forensic experts are now using DNA from elephant tusks to learn more about the criminal networks that are poaching and smuggling ivory. A research team—made
Wildlife forensic scientists study biological samples of wildlife that are evidence in legal cases. Learn about career options and salary information.
It’s my pleasure to welcome back Fiona Quinn to Murder Blog, with a fascinating post about wildlife forensics. The post is so informative I don’t want to ruin it by rambling, so let’s get right to it. Over to you, Fiona! In wildlife forensics, an investigator attempts to tie a person or an object to a crime scene by using natural elements. These might include: * Soil * Wood * Pollen grains * Animal hair (ThrillWriting blog link) * Animals * Insects * Protists (single celled organisms found in water) Soil Soil analysis might be able to link… The shoes of a suspect (ThrillWriting blog article: footwear evidence) Show where a car has traveled Show soil from where a victim was left. Soil is made up of… Inorganic – percentages of the combinations and make up of the soil differs from region to region so can help pinpoint an area rocks minerals (naturally occurring crystals) Organic humus decaying animal and bug matter scat (dung) Man made glass oil/gas paint brick/asphalt Who will test this information in the crime lab? Chemists Geologists Video Quick Study (4:24) talks about using soil in Manson murder Video Quick Study (9:11) soil samples might be analysed for poison and environmental crimes. Soils vary in… Color Munsell System – describes the color of the soil Chroma (purity of the color) Hue – the color Value – amount of white or black Texture – like clay Particle size – measured through a graduated sieve. Chemistry Pollen and Protists Under a microscope investigators look for samples of pollen, protists. Palynology — the study of spores and pollen. Pollen and spores make good forensic evidence because… – they don’t degrade easily – distinctive to a locality – help clue investigator to determine if the body was moved from one location to another Protists Reproduce at certain times of the year — a good way to narrow the time-frame. Example: algae blooms in water If the body was in water, or is suspected to have been in water, protists might be able to lead them to a specific location via SEM (scanning electron microscope). Video Quick Study (5:45) Pollen under the microscope and identification Video Quick Study (1:50) Forensic botanist testifies at Casey Anthony trial Video Quick Study (1:09) Forensic botany Wood How is identifying wood helpful in an investigation? Clues that might help identify a piece of wood… cut marks nail holes unique species species coming from a distinct region In the Lindbergh baby abduction the suspect used a homemade ladder that was left at the scene. The wood expert looked at the tool marks to differentiate the types of wood used in the construction. Video Quick Study (3:28) Lindbergh wood expert Animals An animal might actually be the suspect. Perhaps the investigator is trying to determine which animal attacked a human. Diseased animals (such as rabies) might cause attacks. Bite marks are examined by forensic odontologists (dentists) Video Quick Study (2:25) forensic odontologist at work Animals at large are tracked using the same methods as with humans (ThrillWriting blog article: footwear) If the investigator suspects the animal that attacked/ate someone was found, the investigators will examine the animal’s stomach contents. An animal might be the victim if one of the following occurs… Abuse On sale for $1.50 (click cover)*Poaching Video Quick Study (2:16) Wildlife forensic biologist * Poisoning/baiting – tested by forensic chemists * Hunting outside of the proper season or with illegal methods * Illegal trade in protected wildlife is the third largest grouping of criminal activity following drugs and guns. Worth billions a year. Endangered Animals and Plants – Over 30,000 plant and animal species garner special protection. Can be found in the form of meats, fish, or fish roe available for consumption. DNA would be used to try to determine the number of animals involved by finding out how many unique DNA patterns are present. Clothing might be made from the body of a protected species. Ground into medicines – investigated by forensic chemists Wildlife is protected in the United States by the Department of Homeland Security – Border Protection Division Information Link Protect endangered species Protect our eco-systems from the introduction of invasive species. *Inspectors might find animal hair that help link a suspect to a crime scene (ThrillWriting blog article: fur evidence)Video Quick Study (2:14) new wildlife forensics lab to protect the wildlife Video Quick Study (6:44) Being a Wildlife ranger — protecting the animals is incredibly dangerous. What great heroes and heroines to write into a plot line. Video Quick Study (6:29) CSI for wildlife Snarge – the pulverized bird remains stuck to an airplane. Samples of birds and birds pieces are kept at the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. The feathers and bird remains found at the scene or an airplane accident help to determine if the plane was downed by birds. Video Quick Study (13:22) Goes through the forensics of flight 1549 and bird strike forensics. The Environment All of the same scene and evidence protocols have to be maintained (ThrillWriting blog article: CSI 101) EPA involvement Dead zones on land and in water Strange Odors * Dead wildlife Accidental or criminal poisoning of the environment Heavy metals Insecticides Gas/oil Critical investigative work because these toxins enter the food chain and effect our health. Video Quick Study (2:13) Dan River coal ash – human water supply, environmental impact. Connect with Fiona Twitter: @FionaQuinnBooks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fionna.quinn.52 Website: http://thrillwriting.blogspot.com/ Join her mailing list for a free novella!
Prince William , 41, was led around MacRitchie Nature Reserve by Singapore's deputy prime minister and minister for finance, Lawrence Wong, this morning.
International timber trafficking is an estimated $100 billion business. A lab that usually focuses on endangered animal cases is using a sophisticated machine to identify contraband wood shipments.
Today, on the blog, I am sharing 15 of my favorite Amazon finds that I use in my classroom.
Methodological and Technological Advances in Death Investigations: Application and Case Studies focuses on advancements in both methods and technology in death investigations. Specifically, in the areas of latent fingerprints, facial recognition, wildlife forensics, using aerial vehicles and 3D-ID. The combination of national and international authors and a discussion of the state of forensic science over a decade after the National Academies 2009 Report, Strengthening Forensic Science in the United States: A Path Forward, further highlights the boundaries, limitations and context in which these newer technologies and applications act synergistically to enhance forensic science.
Using forensic genetics techniques, the University of Arizona's Conservation Genetics Lab is working to protect wild animals and catch the criminals in cases of wildlife crime.
A South African game reserve has a new strategy for curbing illegal hunting: forensic entomology.
In this activity, students create (and may eat!) fake animal scat in this activity from the book “Hands On Grossology” by Sylvia Branzei. Have you ever examined poop? Scatologists are scientists who make their living from studying feces to determine a variety of things about the animals or humans who made it. They can even identify […]
A forensic lab dedicated to fighting crimes against wildlife.
The device, which has been used for detecting Ebola and genetically profiling tumors, is now being put toward fighting wildlife crime.
Founded in 1988 in Ashland, Ore., the National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory is the only U.S. federal crime lab devoted to criminal investigations of crimes committed against wildlife. Correspondent Conor Knighton meets the forensic scientists whose cases can get pretty wild.
Eight of the best FREE online forensics activities for High School and Middle School Forensic Science! Includes links and teaching ideas!
Biologists tracking vulnerable turtle species in the Mediterranean have borrowed a technique from forensic scientists.
By Bruce Head. Subway fast-food chain and some food scientists reject results showing 50% soy DNA in chicken samples.
A new report by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service finds that solar facilities in California are acting like “mega traps” that kill and injure birds. As a result, “entire food chains” are being disrupted.
Prince William , 41, was led around MacRitchie Nature Reserve by Singapore's deputy prime minister and minister for finance, Lawrence Wong, this morning.
The field of forensic entomology has a much longer history than you might suspect, dating all the way back to the 13th century.
The vibrant colours of poisonous frogs warn of the extremely toxic compounds contained in their skin. The amount of poison in one frog alone is...
Forensic fingerprinting techniques will now be used in the battle against illegal wildlife trade as new methods of lifting fingermarks from trafficked animals.
