foster+freeman BLOG
Shining a Light on Wildlife Forensics
One area of forensics that doesn’t get talked about nearly enough is the area of wildlife crime. Wildlife crime like others, happens every single day around the world. Globally, poaching is a crime of huge international significance, which is in many cases contributing to the extinction of many of our planet’s most treasured species. We’ve all seen footage of elephants, rhinos and big game animals being tracked down by hunters seeking to harvest valuable ivory or perhaps even just an attractive trophy for their wall. However, poaching is in no way limited to these high-profile occurrences. In 2023, Interpol stated that “illegal wildlife trade has become one of the world’s largest criminal activities”. They estimated that the black market for illegal wildlife products worth up to 20 billion USD per year, poaching and the illegal wildlife trade has become a major area of activity for organized crime groups and is increasingly linked with armed violence, corruption and other forms of organized crime.Introduction
Not Just Animals
Use of ALS in Wildlife Crime
Fraudulent Documentation
Conclusion
In conclusion, the realm of wildlife crime is a complex and pervasive issue that extends far beyond the publicized poaching incidents of iconic species. The interconnected web of illegal activities, from the trafficking of ivory and endangered species to the illegal logging and timber trade, poses a serious threat to our planet’s biodiversity and ecosystems. As highlighted by Interpol, the illicit wildlife trade has grown to become one of the world’s largest criminal activities, with an estimated value of up to 20 billion USD annually.
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Crime-lite® X
Handheld, Multi-Spectral LED Light Source with Advanced Functionality: The biggest leap forward in Forensic Light Source technology for over 20 years.
A complete ALS kit in a single light source, the Crime-lite X enables the examiner to seamlessly switch between White, UV, Violet, Blue, Blue/Green, Green, Orange, Red, and Infrared LEDs, to perform a comprehensive multi-spectral examination of a crime scene. Operated via a simple 3-button interface, the Crime-lite X provides new functionality never seen before in a forensic light source that will ensure that crime scene and laboratory examiners reveal the maximum amount of evidence in every examination.Crime-lite® AUTO
Wildlife Forensics
Wildlife forensics is a relatively new field of criminal investigation. In many countries, lags far behind other fields of forensic science in terms of budget and the availability of manpower, equipment and resources.
In this webinar, we focus on getting the most out of a limited range of equipment and using common forensic tools and instruments, occasionally in unexpected ways, to examine wildlife crimes.