Wildlife Forensics: Science in Service of Animal Welfare

Wildlife forensics uses DNA analysis, toxicology, and pathology to investigate wildlife crimes and poaching incidents, providing the evidential basis for prosecution and deterrence that protects animal welfare.

Key Facts

The USFWS National Forensics Laboratory is the world's only full-service wildlife crime laboratory.
DNA barcoding can identify species from small tissue samples, enabling prosecution for illegal trade in wildlife products.
Toxicological analysis of deceased wildlife identifies illegal poisoning of predators and non-target species.
Stable isotope analysis can determine where an animal was born and raised, exposing false provenance claims in the live animal trade.
Wildlife forensics evidence has supported successful prosecution in ivory trafficking, rhino horn trade, and raptor persecution cases.

Welfare Considerations

Wildlife forensics provides the evidential tools that make wildlife crime prosecution possible. Without forensic science, wildlife crimes are effectively unprosecutable — the cause of death cannot be proven, the origin of illegal products cannot be determined, and perpetrators cannot be connected to specific offenses. Effective prosecution and the deterrence it creates prevents the welfare harm of future crimes. Wildlife forensics investment therefore has a direct welfare benefit through its role in making enforcement meaningful and wildlife crime economically risky for perpetrators.

What You Can Do

Support funding for wildlife forensics laboratories through conservation donations.
Report suspected wildlife crimes with as much physical evidence documentation as possible.
Advocate for wildlife crime to be treated as serious organized crime with appropriate forensic resources.
Follow TRAFFIC and Wildlife Justice Commission for wildlife crime enforcement updates.
Support international wildlife forensics capacity building in range countries with limited resources.