CSI Wildlife: DNA Forensics Used to Prevent Elephant Poaching

Dead elephants, poaching photo

Illegal Ivory Smuggling
The black-market value of elephant tusks has quadrupled since 2004. Even if over 68 tons of ivory have been confiscated over the past decade, poachers and smugglers are still doing good business and killing many elephants, including in countries where they are endangered.

New Weapon to Fight Poaching
But anti-poaching investigators have a new tool at their disposal. It's not a cure for the problem, but it should help them be more effective and target their resources better. DNA forensics can allow them to know from where the illegal elephant tusks are coming from. For example, 605 elephant tusks valued at ...