Wildlife forensic science is
forensic science applied to legal issues involving wildlife.
Laboratories and organizations
With the initiative of the Society for Wildlife Forensic Science (SWFS), the Scientific Working Group for Wildlife Forensic Sciences (SWGWILD) was formed in 2011.
Scope
While animals and plants are the victims in the crimes of illegal
wildlife trade
Wildlife trade refers to the of products that are derived from non-domesticated animals or plants usually extracted from their natural environment or raised under controlled conditions. It can involve the trade of living or dead individuals, ti ...
and
animal abuse
Cruelty to animals, also called animal abuse, animal neglect or animal cruelty, is the infliction by omission (neglect) or by commission by humans of suffering or harm upon non-human animals. More narrowly, it can be the causing of harm or suf ...
, society also pays a heavy price when those crimes are used to fund illegal drugs, weapons and terrorism. Links between
human trafficking,
public corruption
Corruption is a form of dishonesty or a criminal offense which is undertaken by a person or an organization which is entrusted in a position of authority, in order to acquire illicit benefits or abuse power for one's personal gain. Corruption m ...
and
illegal fishing
Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU) is an issue around the world. Fishing industry observers believe IUU occurs in most fisheries, and accounts for up to 30% of total catches in some important fisheries.
Illegal fishing takes ...
have also been reported.
[US Senate Foreign Relations Committee. 2009]
Trafficking and extortion of Burmese migrants in Malaysia and Southern Thailand: a report to the Committee on Foreign Relations
United States Senate. Washington, DC The continued development and integration of wildlife forensic science as a field will be critical for successful management of the many significant social and conservation issues related to the illegal wildlife trade and wildlife
law enforcement
Law enforcement is the activity of some members of government who act in an organized manner to enforce the law by discovering, deterring, rehabilitating, or punishing people who violate the rules
Rule or ruling may refer to:
Education ...
.
See also
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Marine forensics Marine Forensic Science is forensic science applied to legal issues involving marine life. It also refers to the scientific study of incidents or accidents occurring as a result of or involving bodies of water including oceans, streams or rivers, ...
References
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*Espinoza, Edgard O., and Mary-Jacque Mann. 2000. Identification Guide for Ivory and Ivory Substitutes, 3rd edition. Ivory Identification Incorporated, Richmond, VA
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Further reading
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External links
INTERPOL Wildlife Crime Working GroupNational Fish and Wildlife Forensics LaboratoryNOAA Marine Forensics LaboratorySociety for Wildlife Forensic Science (SWFS)Article on SWGWILD (the Scientific Working Group for Wildlife Forensics)Italian National Reference Centre for Veterinary Forensic Medicine (CeMedForVet)
Wildlife
Wildlife refers to undomesticated animal species, but has come to include all organisms that grow or live wild in an area without being introduced by humans. Wildlife was also synonymous to game: those birds and mammals that were hunted ...