rhodis - the rhino dna index system and other forensic tools richard emslie iucn ssc african rhino...
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RhODIS - The Rhino DNA Index System and other forensic tools
Richard Emslie IUCN SSC African Rhino Specialist Group and SADC Rhino & Elephant Security Group/Interpol Envir Crime WG
on behalf of …
Cindy Harper VGL, Onderstepoort, Univ of Pretoria, S.Africa
• Database of African rhinoceros DNA profiles– Forensic dataset (poaching cases, seizures) – Routine dataset (stockpiles, live rhinos and
hunting trophies) • Nuclear DNA – Individual Identification• Primarily Law Enforcement & Investigations• Trade Routes • Horn Stockpiles and Hunting Trophies• Inform Metapopulation management• Distinguish between legal and illegal horn – could
help control a legal horn trade if this were ever approved by CITES.
RhODIS: What is it?
• Allows the matching of recovered rhino horn or other samples (eg blood from clothes, carpet or axe or tissue sample from poached rhino) to be linked to a specific individual.•Individual DNA profile – Random match probability ~1 in 1million)•Species and Sex•Example …
Tool to assist poaching investigations
RhODIS Training• RhODIS program includes sample collection and training to
ensure chain of evidence is maintained and evidence is admissable in court
• Training of EMI, Police investigators, field rangers, veterinarians, prosecutors on use of rhino DNA evidence and to collect DNA samples (South Africa, Swaziland and Kenya)
• Certification courses so far presented to 199 participants
• Forensic kits developed for sample collection • Kits produced at the Veterinary Genetics Laboratory and
>5000 distributed• Ensures chain of custody from sample collection to
evidentiary report and standard method of sample and data collection
RhODIS: Chain of Custody
3 Types of kit •Kit A – Forensic•Kit B – Routine•Kit C - Stockpile
Project Aims
• Get DNA profiles on database of as many of Africa’s live rhinos as possible, plus stockpiles and trophies.
• Single database system for Africa (IUCN WCC Rec 138 & SADC RESG/Interpol ECWG support – South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Malawi, Swaziland, Botswana, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia support RhODIS)
• Aim to share methodology and have network of labs able to do RhODIS analyses worldwide. First prize – a single compatible global system.
• In future plan for for periodic quality control checking of various RhODIS accredited labs by independent lab
Progress over last three years • 15,991 samples submitted to lab (822 forensic) • 6,496 different individuals• Routine use in all S.African investigations & also used
successfully in a Kenyan investigation• SA Legislation amended• Regular use in court in S.Africa • Training of Kenyans with view to have a second
RhODIS lab in Africa• Paper on methodology has very recently been
submitted for peer reviewed publication • ISO accreditation process underway with first audit
scheduled for early April 2013
Selected Case successes
Sudan 1938
Sudan 1938
Horn Fingerprinting • Basic idea = You are what you eat ..
– Different plants (woody browse and herbs, succulents vs tropical grasses) have different photosynthetic pathways
– Different areas have different geologies, soils and climates leading to different chemical composition of plants
• By analysing horn chemistry can we reliably determine Species and Location ?
• Some promise but more work needed
Other tools • GEF Project – to include
improving ballistics for wildlife cases
• Footprint lifting course• Scent capture device • Techniques for effective
prosecution– DNA– Specialist Prosecutors– Scene of Crime training– Charge using multiple laws– Asset forfeiture – Evidence in aggravation – Civil cases
Acknowledgements: RhODIS Donors