UK scientific training completed

In June 2011, four scientists from ASEAN WFN were trained by Drs Ross McEwing and Rob Ogden of TRACE Wildlife Forensics Network at their laboratory in Edinburgh, UK. The four scientists received training in the development of DNA profiling systems for individual identification of rhino and tigers. Rhino poaching is currently on the rise again in Africa. The ASEAN region can expect to see the horns from the poached animals in the coming months. The UK is currently leading a crackdown on rhino poaching and horn trade, and the evidence generated by qualified laboratory scientists will be a vital part of the fight in decreasing poaching. The illegal trade in tiger parts continues to be a threat to the survival of the wild population, and establishing where tiger parts are from is a critical aspect of any thorough investigation.