Wildlife crime-fighting boost

LIKE a fingerprint‚ DNA does not lie.

Now science‚ through the creation of multiple online libraries containing the DNA of endangered and invasive species‚ has added a vital tool to the arsenal of wildlife crime fighters.

Launched in the Kruger National Park yesterday at the 7th International Barcode for Life Conference (iBOL), was the Lab-InA-Box.

The system – a portable laboratory – allows rangers‚ police‚ ports of entry authorities and environmental affairs agents to quickly detect whether plant‚ fish or amphibian and animal species that they come across from potential smugglers is endangered or invasive.

The Lab-In-A-Box makes the identification of species possible within a few hours. In the past‚ said wildlife crime experts‚ lab results could take up to a week.

iBOL project founder and University of Guelph in Canada’s Centre for Biodiversity Genomics director Professor Paul Hebert said many species were in decline – from large vertebrates to small insects and tiny plants.

Department of Environmental Affairs head of bio-security at South Africa’s ports of entry Karabo Malakalaka said the department was setting up bio-security interventions across the country.

“Traffickers often disguise the species they are smuggling‚ making it difficult to identify them.

“Through these decoding kits officials will be able to determine exactly what the species are that they come across,” said Malakalaka. — DDC