Forensics training to aid wildlife sleuths

A new Scottish research partnership is being set up to provide an international centre of expertise on plant and animal forensics to help tackle wildlife crime at home and abroad.

The Wildlife Forensics Development Programme will see formal ties between the Scottish Government’s wildlife DNA forensics unit and the University of Edinburgh’s vet school and Roslin Institute, which produced the cloned sheep Dolly.

The news comes as representatives from more than 30 countries gather in Edinburgh for the Society for Wildlife Forensic Science (SWFS) symposium, which is being held outside the US for the first time.

The new partnership will provide a platform for research and training.

SWFS president Dr Rob Ogden said: “Forensic science has revolutionised criminal investigations and is now being employed to help protect some of the world’s most threatened species from persecution and illegal trade.”

Environment secretary Roseanna Cunningham, who is speaking at the event, said: “The new wildlife forensics development programme builds on Edinburgh’s strong reputation for biosciences, taking a progressive approach that will strengthen links between enforcement, policy and forensics.”