The application of scientific techniques or knowledge to criminal investigations or the analysis of evidence that may be offered in court is known as forensic science. From anthropology and animal forensics to fingerprint and DNA analysis, forensic science encompasses a wide range of fields. Despite representing a variety of fields, forensic scientists all deal with the same problems. How can you be confident that forensic techniques yield accurate findings? How can you accurately and comprehensibly convey results to a jury or other non-experts? How can you stay current with emerging technologies without letting casework suffer? To guarantee that forensic science continues to be a potent force in favor of justice and public safety, it is imperative that these and other issues be addressed.
The broad discipline of forensic science applies scientific procedures and approaches to legal issues, especially criminal investigations. Among its many applications are the gathering and examination of evidence, the identification of suspects, and the reconstruction of crime scenes. It contributes to environmental forensics, animal crime investigations, and disaster victim identification in addition to crime solving. Hence, today we are here with a blog post discussing the importance of forensic science in wildlife investigations.
Wildlife Forensic Science - Overview
The use of forensic science to legal matters involving animals is known as wildlife forensic science. Wildlife forensic science is a helpful tool for non-invasive research and also addresses uncommon species identification and protection. Species and individual animals can usually be identified if they have already been captured using methods like microscopy, the mitochondrial microsatellite analysis, Single-Strand Conformational Polymorphism gel electrophoresis technique (SSCP), DNA bar coding, and certain DNA and isotope analysis.
In contrast to human identification, animal identification involves identifying the animal's genus, sex, and family in order to personalize it, usually using DNA-based analysis.
Species Identification
The identification procedure in wildlife forensic sciences primarily pertains to the taxonomic species implicated in the crime, together with its protection and CITES status. Only then is it feasible to identify the true effects of the crime at the level of the population or even the ecosystem, to hold the guilty criminals accountable for their acts, and to take effective action. Regardless of the circumstances, morphological and molecular approaches can be used to determine the species appropriately.
Morphological Identification
To determine which species are present at a crime scene, morphological identification is typically appropriate and reasonably priced. While certain body parts that are illegally trafficked, like elephant tusks or rhino horns, are quite revealing, others could be difficult to recognize. In certain situations, success relies on having comparable reference material, sufficient samples, and knowledge. Analyzing footprints, external body parts, and necropsies are examples of physical identification techniques.
The first non-invasive method of combating wildlife crime could be found in footprints. However, a conclusive identification may be substantially conditional on intraspecific and interspecific variances in animal paws.
Hair, however, is a more important finding for identifying methods. In terms of length (cortex and medulla), cuticle scale pattern, diameter, and color, mammals have distinct hair segments. Scanning electron microscopes or compound optical can be used to examine these features. Furthermore, despite the fact that some alterations, such root banding, frequently occur, hair is thought to be more resistant to post-mortem decomposition because it contains keratin and dead keratocytes.
Feathers are useful for wildlife forensic sciences, too, and hair is not the only skin covering found in animals. Morphological characteristics that can be utilized for identification include barbs, barbules, feather nodes, and color patterns. For example, the nodes of doves' feathers have a characteristic "crocodile shape" that is linked to long barbs and barbules, which are characteristic of doves.
Molecular Identification
The two main molecular techniques used in wildlife forensic sciences for species identification, population gender or (if feasible) parentage analysis, individual identification, and phylogenetics are the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes.
However, because of its availability and placement within the cell, as well as other characteristics that increase the likelihood of its isolation from the evidence, mitochondrial DNA is the most often employed option in wildlife forensic sciences. Furthermore, mitochondrial DNA exhibits both areas with greater and lower mutation rates, both of which are helpful for identification.
In order to gradually localize this comparison procedure and enable forensic experts to identify people at a subspecies or populational level, mitochondrial DNA databases must be continuously developed and updated. Furthermore, a database called MitoAge uses mitochondrial DNA in order to investigate the age of animals, age-related illnesses, and lifespan estimates. Short Tandem Repeat (STR) analysis is based on an animal's genetic profile, is primarily what makes nuclear DNA useful in wildlife forensic sciences.
Characterization of Criminal Actions
Understanding the nature of a crime allows one to deduce attributes of the likely perpetrator, such as their psychological, behavioral, and physical characteristics. This process is known as criminal action characterisation. By reducing the number of potential suspects, connecting crimes, and generating pertinent leads, this procedure—known as criminal profiling—helps with the investigation and capture of the criminal.
Animal Death
Because of the species, techniques, or goals involved, killing animals on purpose or by accident is a prohibited conduct in certain wildlife crimes. In these situations, a thorough history, necropsy, and documentation are necessary in order to create a chronology of events and draw accurate conclusions about the cause of death. A pathologist with animal experience and documentation of all observations is also highly crucial.
Intent and Motivation:
Animal death-related crimes may be committed for a number of reasons, such as:
- Neglect:hunger, dehydration, illness, or injury as a result of inadequate food, water, shelter, or veterinary treatment.
- Deliberate cruelty:intentional infliction of harm, including hunger, poisoning, or beatings.
- Organized violence:cruelty committed in a planned or controlled way, frequently in connection with illicit enterprises like dogfighting or cockfighting.
- Wildlife offenses:Unlawful actions that can cause animal mortality include unlawful hunting, poaching, and the trafficking of endangered animals.
- Interpersonal conflicts:Poisoning or other violent crimes brought on by arguments or personal grudges.
Methods of Killing:
The methods employed to kill animals might differ greatly:
- Physical violence: Stabbing, beating, suffocation, or choking, etc.
- Poisoning:Giving poisonous drugs to induce harm or death.
- Suffocation:Death by asphyxia via drowning, strangling, or confined space.
- Neglect-related causes:Death caused because of dehydration, starvation, exposure, or disease.
- Traumatic injuries:Injuries brought on by car crashes, falls, or other mishaps.
Timeline of Events
A chronological record of a crime's occurrences, from the pre-crime to its conclusion, is called a forensic timeline. It is used by investigators to piece together the events, find suspects, validate witness accounts, and bolster speculations about the crime. For prosecutors, defense lawyers, and law enforcement, it is an essential tool.
Key Aspects of Forensic Timelines:
- Chronological Order:the events are arranged chronologically.
- Reconstruction:aids detectives in comprehending the chronology of events that occurred both before and during the crime.
- Evidence Documentation:includes the procedures used to examine the evidence that was gathered.
- Suspect Identification:can assist in locating possible suspects by using the chronology of events.
- Witness Corroboration:can be applied to verify and compare witness statements.
- Theory Support:can either confirm or deny hypotheses about the crime.
- Court Presentation:In court, timelines can be used as evidence.
Benefits of using a timeline:
- Improved Event Understanding: Assists investigators in comprehending the timeline of a crime's occurrences.
- Discrepancy Identification: Draws attention to discrepancies between various information sources.
- Evidence Organization: Collect and organize the evidence in order.
- Better Communication: Makes it easier for defense lawyers, prosecutors, and investigators to communicate.
Wildlife Forensic Sciences Global Contributions
In order to prevent wildlife crime and aid conservation efforts, wildlife forensic science is essential on a worldwide scale. In order to identify species, monitor illicit trade, and look into poaching, it uses scientific analysis, such as DNA fingerprinting, which supports legal investigations and improves conservation strategies.
A closer look at its contributions is provided below:
1. Combating Wildlife Crime:
Identifying illegal products:
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), forensic analysis assists in identifying the species and place of origin of animal items involved in illicit trafficking, including ivory, horns, and furs, which aids in the prosecution of traffickers.
Tracing origins:
By identifying the source population of stolen animals, DNA profiling can help catch the criminals and stop similar crimes in the future.
Evidence collection and analysis:
In order to link suspects to the crime and give evidence for court trials, wildlife forensic specialists gather and examine biological samples (such as blood, hair, and DNA) from crime scenes.
Supporting legal proceedings:
According to the United Nations Sustainable Development Group, forensic evidence is utilized in court to establish cases against wildlife offenders, which results in convictions and harsher punishments.
2. Supporting Wildlife Conservation:
Species identification:
Trade patterns, understanding populations, and the effects of poaching all depend on the ability to identify subspecies, species, and even individual animals, which is made possible by forensic procedures.
Investigating causes of mortality:
Conservation methods can be informed by forensic science's ability to identify the reason of animal deaths, whether it be illness, poaching, or other causes.
Protecting endangered species:
According to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), wildlife forensics is crucial for detecting and thwarting the illicit trade in endangered species, therefore assisting in ensuring their survival.
Monitoring populations:
Wildlife migrations, genetic diversity, and population numbers may all be monitored via DNA analysis, which yields important information for conservation management.
Promoting One Health:
By examining illnesses that can be transmitted from animals to humans, wildlife forensics helps to ensure the health of both humans and animals, supporting the "One Health" philosophy.
Conclusion
By fusing scientific accuracy with law enforcement, wildlife forensic science plays a crucial part in preserving the biodiversity of our world. With its powerful facilities for species identification, crime scene investigation, and evidence presentation, it acts as a link between criminal justice and environmental protection. By exposing the truth about illicit wildlife operations, such as poaching, trafficking, brutality, and neglect, this sector reinforces international conservation efforts while also holding offenders accountable.
The demand for skilled forensic professionals and cutting-edge investigation methods is rising as environmental crimes become more complex and pervasive. In addition to improving our comprehension of crimes involving animals, wildlife forensic science helps global frameworks like CITES and advances more general programs like the One Health concept. By doing this, it protects ecosystems, public health, future generations, and animals. Forensic science continues to be a potent ally in the continuous struggle to preserve our natural environment because of its multidisciplinary character and worldwide influence.