DNA profiling for Wildlife Crime in Australia

Wildlife authorities in Western Australia now apply the same DNA profiling techniques used in human forensics. Criminals involved in wildlife crimes are often extremely well-organized and intelligent, and they use new technology in innovatives ways. But wildlife law enforcement is catching up and adapting human DNA profiling techniques to wildlife. Increasingly, scientists can tell where a smuggled cockatoo or other bird or reptile comes from, and whether it’s  captive bred. This Australian Broadcasting Corporation report on CSI for Wildlife provides details and features a great video – and my colleague and friend Linzi Wilson-Wilde from Australia’s Institute of Forensic Science.