Animal Forensics

Animal Forensics

Introduction

Forensics is no longer applicable to humans only. In the recent years, animal/veterinary forensics has gained a lot attention and has become an avenue of CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) style research and development. The animal involved in a forensic case could play the role of a victim, perpetrator or witness.

There is an evident use of animal DNA, while carrying out the forensic investigations and it has evolved, as a new and up and coming field. In distinctive domains and situations, like animal welfare, veterinary medication and animal control, animal forensic can be applicable. Particularly, the advanced DNA-based molecular techniques can assist in the struggle in opposition to the poaching of species, in imminent danger of extinction and in the avoidance of brutality to animate beings. The unlawful animals and animal products, picking, collecting, and trading in can now be divulged more efficiently, and a connection among the victim and offender. The capacity of law enforcement officials will be enhanced further, due to the continual progress of a standardized set of wildlife forensics' protocols, to protect and conserve animals in the wild. There is a significant increase in the use of traditional forensic methods by law enforcement officials, for solving crimes having an involvement of animal as victim, culprit or witness.

Forensic experts typically examine wounds and contents of the stomach in addition to DNA analysis to determine the cause of death, animal's species and gender. DNA could be collected from blood drop or tissue piece. These scientists work with bones, blood, hair, feature, fur, teeth, tusks and any part of the animal. This high-tech analysis helps the experts in solving pieces of a crime scene.

According to a DNA expert, Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey that animal DNA lend a hand to facilitate in cases which are really serious cases and the use of animal DNA will be increased in the future.( Gelineau Kristen, 2007)

A new dimension has been added to wildlife law enforcement due to the current initiation of molecular DNA forensics. At times, in their field investigations, the only type of information available to officials assigned for conservation is molecular data. The most recent DNA-based technologies nowadays make it possible, from only trace quantities of their genetic material, to recognize particular individuals by DNA typing. The hereditary association of these individuals can also be determined along with their gender. Molecular forensics of wildlife is, however, more complicated as compared to humans mainly because of the deficiency of a set of standardized laboratory protocols for the sake of both individual and sex recognition. Moreover, the significance of DNA technologies demands not only that identification on the basis of gender and individual to be settled on, in wildlife forensics, , but that the species of target animal be also recognized appropriately (Poetsch, et. al., 2001) (Wong, et. al., 2004). Particularly, the recognition of individuals hinges on a wide-ranging range of accessibility of micro satellite primer pairs that are species-specific, so creating the forensic features encompassing human wrongdoings, not in ...