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| Participants during the Forensic lab tour at KWS |
Kenya's invaluable wildlife resources are a target
of illegal activities such as poaching and illegal exploitation. These illegal activities threaten the country’s wildlife resources and
their habitats. Identification
of trace evidence that can assist wildlife crime case by proving an offense has taken place, identifying an offender, linking an offender to both crime scene and items removed from a crime scene with that scene all form a critical part in compiling a case. In some cases no reliable
methods for identification of wildlife products are available.
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| Moses Otiende KWS Molecular Biologist leads the lab tour |
The participants at the recent Wildlife DNA Forensics Laboratory training on visiting the newly
constructed forensic Lab recognized that Forensic requirements in
wildlife sector indeed require a modern laboratory, capacity building and training in
forensic sciences for wildlife
officers, as well as improved collaboration with
local and international partners including INTERPOL. In the meantime,
appropriate
policies that enhance compliance and enforcement of wildlife laws must be endorsed
for the survival of species. The training was relevant in addressing issues of data sharing and synchronization between the
laboratory and the database and data integrity measures in place within the
laboratory.
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| Dr. Gila Bargal talks during the Mock Court plenary session. |
Some
of the interesting topics discussed in this forum were an overview of
Wildlife DNA-based Forensics,
importance Forensic Pathology in wildlife crime prosecution and link to
DNA-based wildlife forensics, the linkages between prosecution and forensics Elephant DNA and its use in law enforcement, and the challenges
of preserving evidence, admissibility, court room challenges. Other critical components
were administering a biological laboratory, preserving high standards,
interacting with enforcement and prosecutors. The mechanisms of decontaminating
and installing equipment were demonstrated, as well as species identification, legal
standards, and the need for international cooperation. The most interesting part of the training workshop was that a Mock Court was set for the participants so as to find out how use
of scientific procedures to examine, identify, and compare evidence from
crime scenes, and to link the evidence with a suspect and a victim,
which is specifically an animal, work in real Court.
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| Mock Court participants pose for group photo |
Wildlife DNA is
a potential refinement in use of scientific procedures to examine, identify, and compare evidence
from wildlife crime scenes and linking this evidence with a suspect and a victim. Forensic
science has a key role to play in
curbing wildlife
crimes because illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife
products affects the survival of these species. Populations of rhinos and elephants for instance have declined in recent
years as a result of trade in their products.
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| Dr. Schindel (L) cross examines a witness in the Mock Court |
In
the year 2002, KWS embarked on developing a forensic technique for detecting
bush meat. KWS
employed the immuno-diffusion technique for wildlife meat identification. This method, developed with assistance from
University of Nairobi is considered easier and less expensive. KWS
collaborates with the Government Chemist to identify suspected meat samples
using precipitin method. The molecular based approach (using DNA) is yet to be used despite its complexity and cost factors.
