Wildlife Forensic Investigation

John and Margaret Cooper are a husband and wife team from the United Kingdom. John E. Cooper trained as a veterinary surgeon and is now a specialist pathologist with particular interests in wildlife and exotic species, tropical diseases and comparative medicine. He has served widely as a consultant expert witness and teaches pathology and wildlife health at different levels. Margaret E. Cooper is a lawyer who trained originally as a British solicitor and has made the study of animal and conservation law her special interest. The Coopers have travelled widely and lectured together in many countries. They have spent nearly ten years living in Africa, including a period in Rwanda working with mountain gorillas. They continue to combine their medical and legal backgrounds in the promotion of an interdisciplinary approach to veterinary and biological education, wildlife conservation, and forensic science.

What Is Wildlife Forensics? Types of Wildlife Investigation. Legislation. Application of Forensic Science to Wildlife Investigations. The Wildlife Crime Scene: An Introduction for First Responders. Forensic Entomology. Field Techniques: At Home and Abroad. Working with Live Animals. Working with Dead Animals. Dealing with Samples. Genetic Methodologies in Wildlife Crime Investigations. Some Aspects of Laboratory Work. Special Considerations and Scenarios. Collection and Submission of Evidence. Writing Reports and Appearing in Court. Conclusions and the Way Forward. Appendix A: Glossary. Appendix B: Facilities and Equipment Lists. Appendix C: Standard Witness Statement (United Kingdom). Appendix D: Specimen Forms – Wildlife Forensic Cases. Appendix E: Sources of Information. Appendix F: Health and Safety: Zoonoses and Other Hazards. Appendix G: Preparation and Investigation of Material. Appendix H: Scientific Names of Species and Taxa of Animals Mentioned in Text, with Notes on Taxonomy. Appendix I: Legal Aspects of Sample Movement in Wildlife Forensic Cases. Appendix J: Information and Intelligence Gathering in Wildlife Crime Investigation. Appendix K: Javan Rhino Examination Report. References and Further Reading. Index.