Rhino DNA database established
Scientists at the Scottish Government are collating rhino DNA to set up a database to be used by police investigating rhino horn theft.
With rhino horn now fetching more than its weight in gold, the illegal trade in rhinoceros horn has become increasingly lucrative in recent years. This is driving not only poaching of wild rhinoceros but also thefts of horns from private collections. More than 50 thefts were reported from European museums, galleries and auction houses in 2011.
Scientists at SASA (Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture) are ready to send out sampling kits to museums and zoos across the UK. The responses will be analysed to create a DNA database, in order to help trace the origin of any stolen rhino horn intercepted by the police or customs. The aim of the DEFRA-funded project is to protect exhibits and also live rhinos in zoos from criminal gangs who steal and sell rhino horn for thousands of pounds on the black market.
The National Museum of Scotland took part in a pilot study with SASA which showed that DNA profiles can be produced from museum horns that are over 100 years old.
Scottish Government Environment Minister and PAW Scotland chairman Paul Wheelhouse said:
“The illegal trade in rhino horn has become not only a threat to these magnificent, but sadly very rare animals in the wild but also to our museums and zoos. The work at SASA will help the police to crackdown on the criminals who are beneath contempt and who, seemingly, will stop at nothing to exploit these endangered animals for profit.”
Dr Lucy Webster from SASA - who is coordinating the project and was interviewed for Radio 4’s Costing the Earth programme - said:
“While we hope that the horns in museums and zoos in the UK are safe, where large sums of money are involved there will always be some pressure from criminals who seek to exploit these resources. This database will store a unique DNA profile for each sample submitted. If any are subsequently stolen, these profiles will allow horns recovered to be traced back to their place of origin – helping investigators dis-entangle the supply chain of this illegal trade.”
Dr Andrew Kitchener, Principal curator of vertebrates at the National Museum of Scotland, said:
"It is tragic to see increasing poaching in the wild and thefts from museums to feed the illegal trade in rhino horns. The new rhino horn DNA database will hopefully act as a deterrent against future thefts. National Museums Scotland is delighted to have contributed to the development of the molecular techniques for the new database, which will help safeguard our important research collections for the benefit of wild rhino conservation."
Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) houses a Wildlife DNA Forensics unit which provides DNA analysis for wildlife crime investigations in the UK and beyond. This facility, in addition to carrying out regular casework, aims to develop and validate methodology to meet the needs of UK wildlife crime enforcement. A full forensic validation of DNA profiling for black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) has been carried out at SASA, alongside a pilot study to show that DNA profiles can be produced from museum horns that are over 100 years old.
In order for this technique to be of use for horn theft investigations, it is imperative that a horn sample has been collected and shown to produce a sufficient DNA profile prior to theft. This project aims to set up a database of DNA profiles at SASA for rhinoceros specimens in zoos and museums. Initial focus will be on the UK, but if sufficient funding is available may be expanded to include European specimens.