IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Byard, R.W. | |
| Traditional medicines and species extinction: another side to forensic wildlife investigation | |
| 2016 Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology (12): 125-127 | |
Forensic wildlife investigation is a growing field with significant responsibility for the identification and tracking of illegal trade in endangered and threatened species. Wildlife crime has been estimated to cost between US$10 to 20 billion per year globally [1]. While much of the crime involves the illegal collection of uncommon species, or the use of rare materials such as ivory and rhinoceros horn for decorative purposes, one area that is sometimes overlooked is that of traditional medicines [2]. This was exemplified recently when a study dealing with the adulteration of traditional Chinese herbal medicines revealed that a preparation recently bought over the counter in Adelaide, Australia contained the DNA from snow leopard (_Panthera uncia_), and possibly tiger (Panthera tigris), both of which are listed within the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of flora and fauna (CITES) Appendix I [3]. Clearly any controls on the importation and sale of this preparation had failed. It is also unclear what steps have been taken by authorities to deal with this situation. In 2007 of the approximately 33,600 species protected by CITES, 800 were listed as threatened by extinction and so were under wildlife trade bans [4]. Significantly, it is not only animal species that are endangered, as overharvesting of medicinal plants has also contributed substantial threats to their survival [5, 6]. |
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