University of Chester conference looks at wildlife crime

Jul 29 2010 Chester Chronicle

WILDLIFE crime is one of the fastest growing global offences yet public awareness is remarkably limited.

Forensics experts at the University of Chester say statistics show wildlife crime is among the top five categories for worldwide illegal activity, just behind drug and human trafficking.

In a bid to bring this issue to the fore, experts from the University of Chester’s Applied and Health Sciences Faculty hosted the first Chester conference on Forensics: Wildlife Crime.

Dr Ian McDowall, senior lecturer in biological sciences, said: “In Cheshire, wildlife crime is one of the fastest growing criminal activities – it can be anything from poaching, illegal egg collecting and badger baiting to using poisons to kill local wildlife and illegal international wildlife trading.

“The aim of this conference was to introduce participants from a range of backgrounds to the application of modern forensic methodologies in the investigation of wildlife crimes.

“This includes the collection of information and evidence in wildlife offences, the subsequent analysis of this evidence and the measures that are being taken to combat these activities.”