DNA elephants can help combat the illegal trade in … – Diez.hn

Scientists can now compare the DNA of elephant dung with ivory extracted DNA to trace the source of the massive and illegal shipments of ivory tusks and trinkets that cross borders.

Experts They hope that this method will lead to a crackdown on poaching in the two regions of Africa where most deaths occur elephant, according to a study published Thursday in the journal Science.

Trade illegal is responsible for the deaths of 50,000 Africans a year elephants and resulting in the seizure of 40 to 50 tons of ivory.

Most of the demand for ivory comes from Asia, where it is carved for jewelry and manufacture of other “souvenirs”, which give large profits for traffickers.

The most problematic areas are southern Tanzania and northern Mozambique, followed by a protected ecosystem that includes parts of Gabon, Democratic Republic Congo, southeastern and southwestern Cameroon Central African Republic.

“It’s an important transnational criminal organization,” said study co-author Samuel Wasser of the University of Washington.

“The identification of these important foci (poaching) prevent the countries involved in this trade deny the extent of their participation in it. It also allows the international community to work together with these countries to end this trade and stem the flow of ivory of these criminal networks, “the report said.

Time is critical because there are only 470,000 elephants African and about a tenth of the population disappears every year from poaching.

For the study, researchers analyzed 28 seizures of ivory obtained by the authorities between 1996 and 2014. Each arsenal contained more than half a ton of teeth.

Then, to trace the origin of the seized ivory, scientists took samples of elephant dung 1,350, including copies of the savannah and jungle, in 71 localities throughout 29 African countries.

When it corresponds with the DNA from the teeth, could create a map showing where they came from.

Since 2007, most have gone elephant tusks Tanzania and Mozambique.

But most of the forest elephants tusks come from Gabon, Republic of Congo and Central African Republic.