ASHLAND, Ore. (AP) — Scientists from across the globe are in Ashland this week for a conference at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Forensics Laboratory.
The goal of the newly formed Society for Wildlife Forensic Sciences is to help develop wildlife forensics into a mature discipline with commonly accepted procedures that will stand up in court.
Ed Espinoza, the lab’s deputy director, says organized crime networks that smuggle tusks, hides, caviar and other illegal products from endangered species can rake in millions of dollars.
Espinoza says this is first conference in America in which wildlife forensics will be the only topic.
