Communicating Science: Wildlife forensics

12 Apr 2011 – 6:00 pm - 7:40 pm

Wildlife forensics: using tools from medicine and crime scene investigation to help save wildlife - a ZSL Science and Conservation Event.

Modern conservation has access to an array of techniques, such as DNA fingerprinting for genetic monitoring of populations over time, blood screening for disease in wild animals, and serum tests for indicators of stress and/or reproduction. Such techniques are regularly used in a forensic or medical context and these tools are now on the front line for fighting wildlife declines.

Forensic techniques have been applied to solving wildlife crime, but have also spilled over into conservation in the field. Three speakers will discuss how forensics to investigate wildlife crime, and then how these same techniques from forensic and medical science are finding new applications in wildlife conservation.

Examples of patient or crime-victim investigation will be transferred into an ecological setting and used to highlight how these techniques can be applied to identify the causes of wildlife decline and to put management strategies in place

Talks and Speakers
Rob Ogden
Lucy Webster
Tom Hart

Organised by Tom Hart, Institute of Zoology, ZSL.

Please note that this event has already taken place

Wildlife Forensics_Abstracts (75 KB)

This event in the 'Communicating Science' series will begin at 6.00pm (doors from 5.00pm) and talks are scheduled to finish at 7.30pm; admission is free and open to everyone (no advance booking or registration required). This event will be held in the ZSL Meeting Rooms and seats will be on a first-come, first-served basis.

ZSL Science and Conservation Events: An essential part of ZSL's work is to communicate relevant, high-quality zoological and conservation science. The integrated ZSL Science and Conservation Events programme includes Symposia, and the new 'Wildlife Conservation' and 'Communicating Science' series. Topics cover a wide variety of zoological and conservation themes, and international experts present and discuss their research.

Further Information: please contact Megan Orpwood-Russell, Scientific Meetings Coordinator, Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, London NW1 4RY.
Tel:+44 (0)20 7449 6227. Fax: +44 (0)20 7449 6411. E-mail: megan.orpwood-russell@zsl.org.