Claire Gwinnett and colleagues provide training through the Forensic Wildlife Academy. Credit: University of Staffordshire
University of Staffordshire students went on a “once-in-a-lifetime” trip to learn about the role of forensics in combating wildlife crime. During the trip, the university even teamed up with local enforcement to launch a new research group focused on animal hair forensics.
Thirteen forensic science students traveled to the Wildlife Forensic Academy (WFA) in South Africa, where they received specialized training in wildlife forensics to address crimes such as poaching and illegal animal trading.
Through lectures, practical sessions and field trips, the group learned about the current global scale of wildlife crime and how to manage, document and recover evidence from crime scenes. Several students also had the opportunity to work on a real case with the WFA’s Greg Simpson and university lecturer Professor Claire Gwinnett.
University of Staffordshire’s Professor Claire Gwinnett helped to establish the WFA’s training courses in South Africa, helping the team to design the curriculum and incorporate cutting edge forensic techniques.
“Wildlife crime is a growing issue and we need future forensic professionals with the correct skills to address it,” said Gwinnett. “The scientific methods that our students learn on their degrees can be adapted and applied to investigate crimes against protected species—DNA analysis, trace evidence examination, and crime scene documentation can all be used to link suspects to wildlife crimes and increase convictions.”
Gwinnett is an internationally renowned expert in fiber analysis, including animal hairs. During the trip, a new Forensic Animal Hair for Wildlife Crime Investigations Research Group was established, with Gwinnett training University of Staffordshire students, researchers from the WFA, Stellenbosch University (South Africa) and Saxion University (Netherlands) in animal hair examinations.
The group will now collaborate on new research on the intra- and inter-variation in microscopical features in hair from animals persecuted by wildlife crime, including African lions and giraffe.
“Animal hairs are actually more interesting than human hairs,” said Gwinnett. “Each species has its own distinctive characteristics. In wildlife crime, that helps identify an animal, trace the origin of poached animal products, or link animals and people to a crime scene.”
The story of the WFA and its beginnings—including University of Staffordshire’s involvement—has recently been turned into a book by its founder Andro Vos. Following the Trail – From Dream to a Global Weapon Against Wildlife Crime will be available globally on March 25.
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