The fight to protect endangered and at-risk wildlife species depends, in part, on effective wildlife and wildlife product regulations, which define which species of animals, and which parts or derivatives, may be legally traded, in order to clearly define what constitutes a wildlife crime.

But that’s only part of the story, as stopping illegal wildlife trafficking requires effective inspection and identification at the point of entry or exit to a country, and while there are many customs and law enforcement officials doing this work around the world, they aren’t all conservationists with backgrounds in biology or zoology, so a quick and accurate identification isn’t always possible.

By using two of the most powerful tools that are widely available – the internet and mobile apps – wildlife, law enforcement, military, and customs personnel are getting a helping hand in accurately and quickly identifying illegal wildlife products, as well as the animals themselves, in order to effectively stop and prosecute wildlife crimes.

Author: Derek Markham

Source: Treehugger

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