Hunting Ivory Smugglers with DNATop of Mind with Julie Rose • Season 1, Episode 914, Segment 2
Oct 4, 2018 • 16m
Guest: Samuel K. Wasser, PhD, Professor, Biology, University of Washington
Poachers kill tens of thousands of African Elephants every year for their tusks. Ivory trade is illegal, and yet the multi-billion dollar industry keeps growing. Authorities are up against some very powerful international crime syndicates. Researchers have discovered that the elephants themselves may be the key to stopping the whole trade at its source. They’re using elephant DNA to pinpoint where cartels are operating in Africa.