Dr. Robert Ogden/Dr. Ross McEwing, TRACE Wildlife Forensics

ADB - CoP16 2013
Wildlife DNA Forensics
Wildlife DNA Forensics:
Tools for Tackling Illegal Trade
Dr. Rob Ogden
TRACE Wildlife Forensics Network
Society for Wildlife Forensic Sciences
Wildlife Crime
ADB - CoP16 2013
Wildlife DNA Forensics
Investigative Questions, Scientific Answers
What is it? = Species identification
Is it captive bred? = Parentage verification
Where’s it from? = Population assignment
ADB - CoP16 2013
Wildlife DNA Forensics
Wildlife Crime
Who is it from? = Individual ID – Sample matching
Forensic Science
What is it?
ADB - CoP16 2013
Wildlife DNA Forensics
•  ‘Forensic’ describes the end use of the result data
•  ‘Forensic’ describes the control processes surrounding a test
What it is not…
•  ‘Forensic’ does not mean using a test to identify a sample
•  ‘Forensic’ should not be used to describe a technique/method
Very important for wildlife scientists, enforcers and the judiciary to
understand the distinction between research and forensics.
Academic
research
Lab test
Validation
Quality Assurance
Forensic Process
Forensic Standards
ISO standards for laboratory accreditation
ADB - CoP16 2013
Wildlife DNA Forensics
SWG = Scientific Working Groups
•  System for setting forensic standards
•  SWGWILD = Wildlife forensics – published in 2013
•  Currently covers Morphological and DNA identification
•  Benchmark for Wildlife Forensics
Evidence collection
ADB - CoP16 2013
Wildlife DNA Forensics
Forensic Process - Field to Courtroom
Evidence transfer
Sample analysis
Result interpretation
Reporting
Evidence Presentation
Wildlife DNA Forensics
ADB - CoP16 2013
Wildlife DNA Forensics
What’s happening?
•  International network of wildlife DNA forensic labs
•  Method development
•  Performing casework
Society for Wildlife
Forensic Science
Wildlife DNA Forensics
ADB - CoP16 2013
Wildlife DNA Forensics
What’s happening?
•  International network of wildlife DNA forensic labs
•  Method development
•  Performing casework
Species ID
Individual ID
Geographic origin ID
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Wildlife DNA Forensics
ADB - CoP16 2013
Wildlife DNA Forensics
What’s happening?
•  International network of wildlife DNA forensic labs
•  Method development
•  Performing casework
Key Messages
ADB - CoP16 2013
Wildlife DNA Forensics
•  Forensic science is developing to meet the
needs of wildlife law enforcement
•  Species identification is widely available, other
applications are emerging species by species
•  Recognition of the difference between research
and forensic procedures is essential
•  Increased use of wildlife forensics requires
integration with enforcement agencies, as well
as resources for laboratory analysis

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