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DNA barcoding helps anti-poaching campaign

Krugerpark.co.za reports that a newfound scientific power to quickly "fingerprint" species via DNA "barcoding" - identifying species based on a snippet of DNA - is used to convict rhino poachers in South Africa.

9 Jan 2012

In 2007 Dr Cindy Harper, head of Veterinary enetics Laboratory (VGL) at the Faculty of Veterinary Science at the University of Pretoria started a research project to extract DNA from rhino horn. She found that the DNA taken from a specific rhino horn can match DNA found on any other part of the rhino or its carcass. This meant that when a rhino horn is found in the possession of a poacher, DNA can link it to a carcass found in the veld, which can lead to a conviction.

According to Krugerpark.co.za, the faculty of Veterinary Services of the University of Pretoria has developed 1 000 DNA kits, which were handed over to the South African National Parks (SANParks) earlier this year for use in its anti-poaching campaign, especially when facing poachers in court.

Read the full article on www.krugerpark.co.za.