<
https://theconversation.com/the-tiny-clue-that-reveals-if-an-animal-has-been-illegally-smuggled-269818>
"If someone mentions criminal gangs, you might think of drug trafficking or
financial crime. But one of the most persistent illegal trades in the world
flies largely under the radar: wildlife smuggling.
The illegal wildlife trade drains plants and animals from their ecosystems and
fuels organised crime. Australia is now considered a global hotspot for reptile
smuggling. Enforcement agencies scramble to answer the most basic question —
has an animal been taken from the wild? In courtrooms, that question often
determines whether a prosecution succeeds or falls apart.
Our latest research suggests there might be a way to determine where an animal
came from with scientific confidence. By examining the chemical traces inside a
turtle’s claw, we can tell whether the animal grew up in the wild or in
captivity. The claw is a small piece of tissue, but it carries an environmental
signature that’s surprisingly difficult to fake. And this is potentially
transformative for smuggling law enforcement."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
