{"id":47183,"date":"2026-10-04T08:27:35","date_gmt":"2026-10-04T06:27:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/?post_type=news&#038;p=47183"},"modified":"2026-10-04T08:28:33","modified_gmt":"2026-10-04T06:28:33","slug":"uganda-turns-to-forensic-science-to-fight-wildlife-trafficking","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/news\/uganda-turns-to-forensic-science-to-fight-wildlife-trafficking\/","title":{"rendered":"Uganda turns to forensic science to fight wildlife trafficking"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\"><\/div>\n<div data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\"><\/div>\n<div data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\">The approach helped authorities identify 10kg of elephant ivory hidden in a package travelling from Entebbe to Cairo in January 2025.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>The pieces had been cut into thumb-sized fragments, making it difficult for investigators to determine whether the material was bone or ivory through visual examination alone.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Scientists at the Uganda Wildlife Forensics and Timber Laboratory identified a cross-hatched pattern associated with elephant ivory. DNA testing later confirmed that the material came from an elephant.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Two months later, police arrested the sender and discovered additional elephant and warthog ivory at the suspect\u2019s residence.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>The suspect was convicted of attempted trafficking and illegal possession and sentenced to 15 years in prison or a fine exceeding $35 000. \u201cPoachers are removing identification features from wildlife carcasses to evade detection,\u201d Laboratory Manager Patrick Chiyo said.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Chiyo said Uganda\u2019s wildlife court was increasingly requiring DNA evidence, while stronger scientific reports were contributing to more guilty pleas.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>The laboratory examines elephant ivory, pangolin scales, bushmeat and other wildlife products seized by police and conservation authorities.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Evidence is photographed before and after sampling, while sealed samples are transported to the laboratory and the original exhibits remain in police custody.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>In another case, DNA analysis identified skins, heads, meat, legs and a foetus seized in 2023 as remains from bushbucks. Chiyo testified in court before the suspect received a three-year prison sentence.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Uganda is considered an important transit point for organised wildlife trafficking networks, particularly those dealing in elephant ivory and pangolin products.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Uganda Wildlife Authority Representative Bashir Hangi said elephants, pangolins, primates and some bird species were among the animals most threatened by poaching and illegal trade.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Chiyo said enforcement should target both people who kill or capture wildlife and senior figures profiting from trafficking networks. \u201cA living wildlife is worth more benefits for many more people than a dead one,\u201d Chiyo said.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>The Entebbe facility expanded into timber forensics in April as Uganda confronted illegal logging and declining forest cover.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Uganda\u2019s forest cover fell from 24% in 1990 to about 13% in 2025, with authorities identifying timber trafficking as a major contributor.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\u201cEnhancing criminal justice through wildlife and timber forensics is an important pillar in environmental protection,\u201d Chiyo said. \u201cEnvironmental justice will usually benefit the very vulnerable in society.\u201d<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>&#8211;UN\/ChannelAfrica&#8211;<\/div>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":22868,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"news-type":[44,26],"class_list":["post-47183","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","news-type-finance","news-type-general_news","entry"],"acf":{"short_description":"Uganda is using DNA analysis and specialised forensic testing to strengthen investigations into wildlife trafficking and illegal logging.\r\n","published_date":"","news_description":"Uganda is using DNA analysis and specialised forensic testing to strengthen investigations into wildlife trafficking and illegal logging.","form_embed":"","author":"","image_caption":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/47183","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/news"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/47183\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":47185,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news\/47183\/revisions\/47185"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22868"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47183"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"news-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-type?post=47183"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}