Elephant DNA Helps Catch Poachers

hookedup writes "By mapping the genetic profile of elephant groupings across the African continent, a team of researchers can verify where siezed ivory originated, and alert police to poaching hot spots. The study indicated that 50 percent of the samples tested were accurately located within 300 miles and 80 percent were accurate to within less than 600 miles. While still not a proactive approach, it still is a helpful tool in catching poachers."

Comments

call me cynical

[lambent]

"The method allows a DNA sample to be assigned to a fairly specific location, with a relatively high confidence that the assignment is correct. The study indicated that 50 percent of the samples tested were accurately located within 300 miles and 80 percent were accurate to within less than 600 miles."

I don't know ... a 300 mile radius is (approx) 283,000 square miles. and 50% doesn't seem like it would be regarded by anyone as 'relatively high' ... relative to the other 50%, as it were.

I caught an interview with one of these guys on the BBC last night, and they didn't manage to explain exactly how this would help. The article makes it clearer, in that it seems to be useful for determining in which areas laws should be tightened or relaxed.

But it should be made clear that there won't be truck loads of mobile biologists roaming the savannah and forests looking for poachers ... this is a fight that will be fought using legislature. Which is much less glamorous.