Science: tackling the illegal wildlife trade technology update Science: tackling the illegal wildlife trade Issued: September 2018 DES5360 ISBN: 978-1-78252-360-4

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Cover image Pangolin © Vicky Chauhan. CONTENTS

Contents

Foreword 4

Joint ministerial preface 5

Summary 6

The illegal wildlife trade 7 The role of science and technology 10

Intervention one Risk profiling through interrogation of shipping documentation 15 Point of intervention 15 Science and technology 15 Barriers and opportunities 17 Concusion 17

Intervention two Smart shipping container technologies 19 Point of intervention 19 Science and technology 19 Barriers and opportunities 21 Concusion 21

Intervention three Optical recognition approaches 23 Point of intervention 23 Science and technology 23 Barriers and opportunities 25 Concusion 25

Intervention four Development of biological and chemical identification capability for use in the field 27 Point of intervention 27 Science and technology 27 Barriers and opportunities 28 Concusion 29

Intervention five Environmental isotope analysis 31 Point of intervention 31 Science and technology 32 Barriers and opportunities 34 Concusion 34

Conclusions 35

Appendix 37

Science: tackling the illegal wildlife trade 3 FOREWORD

Foreword

The Illegal wildlife trade is a pressing global These discussions surfaced a range of issue damaging natural capital, cultural ideas with further potential, across several heritage, livelihoods and sustainable economic technological and scientific fields. This policy development. It is fuelled by criminality and briefing outlines five interventions which might corruption; the proceeds raise nearly $23 offer feasible opportunities for implementation billion a year and threaten some of the world’s and impact. In taking such ideas forward it will most iconic species. be essential for them to be considered in the wider social, user and operational contexts in Image The Society was invited to explore potential which they will be developed and applied. Professor Andrew Hopper CBE FREng FRS, Treasurer new ways in which emerging science might and Vice-President of the be applied to stopping the trade. It therefore The Society carried out this project informed Royal Society. took an experimental approach, working with by discussions with the FCO and Defra, and practitioners and experts but also deliberately in order to make a contribution to the London including Fellows who were expert in 2018 Illegal Wildlife Trade Conference hosted their fields but who had not had previous by the UK Government. We trust that those experience in this area. working to stop the trade will find this briefing of interest and that it will contribute to further conversations about the benefits of science to tackling real world issues.

Professor Andrew Hopper CBE FREng FRS Treasurer and Vice-President of the Royal Society.

4 Science: tackling the illegal wildlife trade PREFACE

Joint ministerial preface

The illegal wildlife trade (IWT) is an urgent We can already see how technology is being global issue. It has contributed to dramatic used to fight IWT on the ground. Thermal falls in the numbers of many endangered cameras have been deployed in Kenya and have species, from rhinos and pangolins to sturgeon helped rangers capture dozens of poachers. and rosewood. Worth up to £17 billion a year British scientists at King’s College London have globally, it is a highly organised, sophisticated developed a kit that ensures fingerprints on ivory criminal industry. can be identified for up to 28 days. Technology has a key role to play in giving law enforcement This illegal trade is not just damaging to and border officials the tools they need to endangered species. The immense profitability detect and disrupt illegal trade. More advanced of IWT fosters corruption. This feeds insecurity technology could also help us to bypass human in local communities and undermines good error and corrupt officials in detecting IWT. governance and the rule of law, which can hamper economic growth. IWT is also a great We must be mindful that IWT occurs globally threat to national and regional security, as including in some of the poorest and most the networks that support it are all too often remote parts of the world, and therefore any Image top the very same that enable money laundering, technological solutions must be cost-effective Dr Thérèse Coffey MP, modern slavery and people trafficking. and practical. Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Environment Faced with these threats, the UK is committed The illegal wildlife trade was a relatively to playing a leading role in fighting IWT, and new area for the Royal Society, and they Image bottom working with partners from around the world have applied their scientific expertise to Rt Hon Mark Field MP, to end this scourge. We need to ensure a real world issue to come up with some Minister of State, Minister for Asia and the Pacific that we are leveraging the scientific and innovative solutions. We are very grateful to technological expertise available to work the Royal Society for their collaboration with with our international partners in the fight the government and various other interested against the illegal trade. We have been clear organisations in compiling this report and the that governments must work together with five technological interventions they have academia, the private sector and civil society identified and laid out as possible tools for to harness the innovation and technology tackling IWT. This Royal Society report is a present in all sectors to tackle IWT. valuable addition to the global effort to end this scourge.

Dr Thérèse Coffey MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Environment

Rt Hon Mark Field MP Minister of State, Minister for Asia and the Pacific

Science: tackling the illegal wildlife trade 5 SUMMARY

Summary

Advances in science and technology offer • Environmental isotope analysis major opportunities to tackle the illegal wildlife Deeper understanding of the relationship trade. Promising tools are emerging from between the environment and the chemical many different fields, from novel fingerprinting composition of organisms can be used to kits for ivory, artificial intelligence to spot obtain intelligence on their geographical suspect cargoes, to portable devices that origins and age, useful for law enforcement. use genetics to identify wildlife products in the field. While science and technology could For scientific and technological interventions have an important impact, no one approach to have impact and avoid unintended will tackle every part of it as the trade is a consequences, it is crucial to consider the complex system that involves many species, context in which they will be developed environments and actors. and used, including social factors, the technological landscape and user needs. To demonstrate the potential of science and Action also needs to be co-ordinated, suitably technology to tackle wildlife crime, this briefing resourced and encouraged by policy-makers. describes five potential interventions: Consequently, this briefing identifies four cross-cutting themes that could help make • Risk profiling through interrogation the interventions identified more successful: of shipping documentation Big data analysis and forms of artificial • Accessible, affordable innovation and intelligence including machine learning can fit-for-purpose products be used by border agencies to analyse Making simple yet innovative solutions and trade documents to predict and determine more complex technologies as affordable illegal wildlife trade activity with increased as possible. Tailoring them to their users accuracy and speed. and environments through iterative testing, and integrating them into existing systems • Smart shipping container technologies and providing support. Novel design and inbuilt computers, beacons and sensors connected to the • Wildlife crime as a technological test bed internet of things can make shipping Marshalling greater resources and expertise containers ‘smarter’ – more secure and by demonstrating that technologies able to detect illegal wildlife products inside. to tackle wildlife crime can offer wider commercial and public benefits to industry • Optical recognition approaches and government. A range of advanced text and optical image search and recognition techniques, allied to • D igital infrastructure and global artificial intelligence and machine learning technology platforms can be employed to detect illegal wildlife Ensuring developing countries can draw goods at borders, to track the movement upon otherwise inaccessible digital of poachers through protected areas or to capabilities from elsewhere. disrupt illegal online wildlife marketing. • Open data and databases • Development of biological and chemical Better collection, storage and sharing identification capability for use in the field of data as well as accessible, secure Devices that are smaller, more portable, and curated databases. faster, easier to use and cheaper than

today’s can be developed to improve law enforcement efforts by providing faster intelligence and detection.

6 Science: tackling the illegal wildlife trade INTRODUCTION

The illegal wildlife trade

The illegal wildlife trade is an urgent global Trade in wildlife is governed by domestic issue. The trade damages natural capital, and international laws and rules. These cultural heritage, livelihoods, sustainable include the Convention on International economic development and investment1. Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna Fuelled by criminality and corruption, the and Flora (CITES), an international agreement proceeds average $23 billion a year and between governments that aims to ensure threaten some of the world’s most iconic that international trade in specimens of species2. A wide variety of organisms are wild animals and plants does not threaten affected, including plants, animals, birds, their survival3. fish and reptiles. Examples of the impact of the trade are shown in box 1, while the type of seizures and trends in the poaching of rhinos and elephants in Africa are given in figures 1 – 3.

figure 1

Share of type of wildlife among total seizures 2005 – 2014.

1% Rosewood 1% 2% 11% Elephant 2% Assorted reptiles 2% ‘Agarwood’ 2% 35% Pangolin Rhinoceros 3% Marine turtle 3% Parrots 5% Big cats Raptors 6% Tortoise and freshwater turtle Coral 9% 18% Sturgeon Others

Source: UNODC. 2016 World wildlife crime report. Trafficking in protected species. See: https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/wildlife/World_Wildlife_Crime_Report_2016_final.pdf

1. Defra (Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), DfiD (Department for International Development), FCO (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) and Home Office. 2014 London Conference on the illegal wildlife trade declaration. 12-13 Feb. Declaration See https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/281289/london-wildlife-conference- declaration-140213.pdf (accessed 24 September 2018).

2. Africa Wildlife Foundation. 2015 World Wildlife Day Highlights Severity of Wildlife Crime. See https://www.awf.org/news/world-wildlife- day-highlights-severity-wildlife-crime (accessed 24 September 2018).

3. See the CITES website: https://www.cites.org/

Science: tackling the illegal wildlife trade 7 INTRODUCTION

figure 2

Trends in poaching of rhinos in Africa.

1,400 Key

1,200 Other countries Namibia Kenya 1,000 Zimbabwe South Africa 800

600

Number of poached rhinos 400

200

0 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Source: UNODC. 2016 World wildlife crime report. Trafficking in protected species. See: https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/wildlife/World_Wildlife_Crime_Report_2016_final.pdf

figure 3

Trends in poaching of elephants in Africa.

40,000 Key

35,000 Southern Africa Eastern Africa 30,000 12,285 Central Africa 13,303

25,000

20,000 10,631 8,515 5,740 15,000 Number of elephants

10,000 5,645

13,649 13,607 5,000 7,871

0 2010 2011 2012

Source: UNODC. 2016 World wildlife crime report. Trafficking in protected species. See: https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/wildlife/World_Wildlife_Crime_Report_2016_final.pdf

8 Science: tackling the illegal wildlife trade INTRODUCTION

BOX 1

Examples of impact of the illegal wildlife trade

The impact of the illegal wildlife trade is Trade routes diverse in terms of species, trade routes and In the last decade, more than one million transport modes. The following examples pangolins are estimated to have been and estimates illustrate the complexity and trafficked, primarily to China and Vietnam scale of the issue4: where their meat is considered a delicacy and their scales used in traditional medicines8,9. Iconic species 1054 rhinos were poached in South Africa Plants in 2016, up from 13 in 20075. Rosewood (for furniture) and agarwood (cosmetics and perfume) are estimated Human at 35% and 6% respectively by standard The lives of those working hard to protect value of total wildlife seizures between endangered wildlife are also at risk; in the 2005 and 201410. last year, over 100 rangers have died in the line of duty, many at the hands of poachers6. Collateral damage The population of the vaquita porpoise has Aquatic fallen by an estimated 80% between 2011 Tens of millions of seahorses are traded and 2015 as a result of bycatch in nets, many each year (98% dried and only 2% alive) of which were intended to illegally catch an with 87 countries involved in this trade endangered fish called the totoaba11. for traditional medicines, curios and aquarium displays7. Value The estimated street value of one illegal shipment of glass eels seized at Heathrow in 2017 was £1.2 million12.

4. Worldwise. World Wildlife Crime Report. World wildlife seizures (worldwise) database. See https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and- analysis/wildlife/WLC16_Chapter_2.pdf (accessed 6 February 2018).

5. Save the Rhino. Poaching statistics. See https://www.savetherhino.org/rhino_info/poaching_statistics (accessed 6 February 2018).

6. The Thin Green Line Foundation. 2018 World Ranger Day 2018 – Ranger Roll of Honour 2018. In Memoriam. See https://www.internationalrangers.org/world-ranger-day/ (accessed 24 September 2018).

7. ZSL (Zoological Society of London). Infographic: Illegal Wildlife Trade. See https://www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo/news/infographic-illegal- wildlife-trade (accessed 6 February 2018).

8. ZSL (Zoological Society of London). Illegal wildlife trade crisis> Pangolin Conservation. See https://www.zsl.org/conservation/threats/ illegal-wildlife-trade-crisis/pangolin-conservation (accessed 24 September 2018).

9. UNODC. 2016 World wildlife crime report. Trafficking in protected species. See: http://globalinitiative.net/world-wildlife-crime-report- trafficking-in-protected-species/ (accessed 24 September 2018)

10. UNODC. 2016 World wildlife crime report. Trafficking in protected species. See: http://globalinitiative.net/world-wildlife-crime-report- trafficking-in-protected-species/ (accessed 24 September 2018)

11. Environmental Investigation Agency. 2016 Collateral damage: How illegal trade in totoaba swim bladders is driving the vaquita to extinction See: https://eia-international.org/wp-content/uploads/EIA-Collateral-Damage-FINAL-mr.pdf (accessed 16 February 2018)

12. Home Office. 2017 Eels seized at Heathrow airport. See https://homeofficemedia.blog.gov.uk/2017/03/03/home-office-in-the-media-3- march-2017/ (accessed 6 February 2018).

Science: tackling the illegal wildlife trade 9 INTRODUCTION

The role of science and technology The interventions that follow are a potential Science and technology offers major source of feasible opportunities that have a opportunities to help tackle the illegal wildlife reasonable chance of implementation and trade. Progress has already been made by impact. Rather than representing an exhaustive initiatives such as Zoohackathon, the Wildlife list of every option they are intended to Crime Tech Challenge and Wildlab.net (see illustrate the range of opportunities that box 2), and there are many examples of exists across different scientific disciplines, new technologies in use now such as ivory environments, species and time frames of fingerprinting kits (see case study 1). This development. Often technologies might be policy briefing outlines potential scientific and used in combination such as risk profiling technological interventions and introduces shipping documents and smart containers. insights from different fields and sectors to Other technologies not detailed, such as complement existing work. remote sensing, often help underpin those that are covered and interventions should The illegal wildlife trade involves many different seek to address both demand and supply. The species, locations and actors, some of which are use of human networks alongside technology outlined in table 1. Scientific and technological could be especially important where Non- interventions can have an important impact but Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and wider no single intervention or group of interventions civil society are partnered with enforcement will tackle every challenge or part of the system. officers. The Society is not aware of a single, When developing interventions it is important to reliable, curated source of data on the illegal consider the social context to avoid unintended wildlife trade as a whole. The development consequences, mindful that advances in science of such a database would present an and technology can potentially facilitate as well opportunity to identify where interventions as reduce the trade. would be most useful.

10 Science: tackling the illegal wildlife trade INTRODUCTION

BOX 2

Examples of science and technology initiatives to tackle wildlife crime

Zoohackathon and announced four Grand Prize Winners in Zoohackathon is a project supported in September 2016. They featured technologies part by the US Government’s Task Force to identify illegal trading online and in the on Combating Wildlife Trafficking to reduce field, including artificial turtle eggs fitted with demand for endangered species and increase tracking devices to reveal trafficking routes. international cooperation. It has quickly grown to encompass efforts by many of those The Wildlife Crime Tech Challenge is an involved in conservation and technology from initiative of the US Agency for International around the world. Development (USAID) in partnership with the National Geographic Society, the Through Zoohackathon, leading conservation Smithsonian Institution, and TRAFFIC. technology zoos worldwide welcome coders and programmers for sessions aimed at For further details see developing solutions to problems put forward wildlifecrimetech.org/index by international wildlife experts. At the end of the hackathons, teams pitch their ideas to an Wildlabs.net expert panel of judges. Local winners receive Supported by Google and ARM, Wildlabs prizes and winners from each site are also is an open source facility for those working eligible to compete for global prizes. against illegal wildlife crime. Wildlabs was established to build an online community In 2017 both the London and Global among those involved in conservation Zoohackathons were won by a UK product and develop technological solutions. It that processes images from camera traps in also provides for sharing of skills and the field and immediately flags the presence networking. The intention is to cut costs of elephants or people to rangers. This and raise effectiveness of technology-based would allow poaching to be identified and approaches for those active in combating addressed more swiftly. illegal trade, making them practical for small, relatively poorly funded groups to access. For further details see zoohackathon.com Within its first year, Wildlabs grew The Wildlife Crime Tech Challenge to a community of over 1300 global The Wildlife Crime Tech Challenge rewards members. Areas in which they are actively innovative science and technology solutions collaborating to develop new hardware that tackle specific wildlife trafficking issues. technologies include an open-source In early 2016, the Challenge selected Prize acoustic monitoring device for tracking Winners to receive Prize Packages of $10,000 wolves and an automatic elephant detector in addition to promotional and networking using machine learning. They are also crowd- opportunities and technical assistance to scale sourcing answers to questions ranging or accelerate their solutions. Prize Winners from low-cost wildlife tracking tags to self- were also eligible to compete for one of up to powered camera traps. four Grand Prizes worth as much as $500,000. The Challenge used Grand Prizes to target For further details see and invest in the most promising solutions, wildlabs.net/about-wildlabsnet

Science: tackling the illegal wildlife trade 11 INTRODUCTION

CASE STUDY 1

Development of an ivory fingerprinting kit

One example of a recent technology also relatively affordable and user-friendly, developed to help tackle the illegal wildlife with any excess powder able to be recycled. trade is a fingerprinting kit for ivory created The International Fund for Animal Welfare through a collaboration between King’s (IFAW) have now supported and funded College London and the Metropolitan provision of these kits internationally. Most Police Service. Until recently, fingermarks recently, they have been successfully used could only be recovered from ivory two to to catch poachers and traders in Kenya and three days after deposition using traditional other ivory crime hotspots. powdering techniques. The technique has been integrated with Investigation of new, smaller scale magnetic DNA profiling to identify poachers from their powder materials enabled recovery of powdered fingermarks on ivory. There may fingermarks on ivory with better definition also be opportunities in the future for the use and for up to 28 days. This extended period of this technology on other hard semi-porous allows more time to gather evidence on those wildlife products, such as animal claws, and who have handled the ivory and potentially a gel format is being developed to stop the those responsible for organising poaching. powder being blown away in the field. The powder and method of application are

12 Science: tackling the illegal wildlife trade INTRODUCTION

TABLE 1

Environment Examples of illegally traded species Deserts • In the last 15 years at least 50% of the population of the desert dwelling Peruvian cactus Echinopsis pampana has disappeared through illegal collection for the ornamental plant trade13. • Domestic and international nurseries are the destinations for many illegal cacti. • Other desert species at risk include snakes, plants and reptiles. Forests • Rosewood refers to a number of different species of tropical hardwood used in furniture, some of which are CITES listed. • Rosewood represented over a third of the total standard value of seizures between 2005 and 201414. • Other forest species at risk include tigers, primates, wild birds and orchids Fresh water • The Ganges River Dolphin is an endangered species that is threatened by a range of human activity including the illegal wildlife trade15. • The dolphin is targeted for its meat and oil that are used as medicines and to attract catfish. • Other freshwater species at risk include turtles and fish. Oceans • Wildaid and Sharksavers have estimated that manta ray populations have declined by between 56% and 86% in recent years16. • Manta rays are caught for their gill plates that are used for purported medicinal properties in East Asian markets. • The gill plates are shipped to China’s southern province of Guangdong where they can fetch $500 per kilo. • Other marine species at risk include corals, sharks, turtles, sea cucumbers, abalone and seahorses. Savannas • Poaching has led to around 30% of Africa’s savannah elephants being wiped out between 2007 and 201417. • Ivory is moved by land, sea and air to Asian markets, often concealed by lower value fillers; such as fish. • Other savannah species at risk include lions and other big cats, rhinos and tortoises.

13. International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Illegal trade contributes to placing cacti among world’s most threatened species. See http://www.iucnredlist.org/news/cacti-assessment (accessed 6 February 2018)

14. UNODC. 2016 World wildlife crime report. Trafficking in protected species. See: https://www.unodc.org/documents/data-and-analysis/ wildlife/World_Wildlife_Crime_Report_2016_final.pdf

15. World Wildlife Fund. Dolphins and porpoises. Ganges River Dolphin. See https://www.worldwildlife.org/species/ganges-river-dolphin (accessed: 19 February 2018)

16. Wildaid and Sharksavers. Manta rays worth more dead than alive. See http://www.sharksavers.org/en/blogs-news/shark-savers-blog/for- immediate-release-manta-rays-worth-more-alive-than-dead/ (accessed 6 February 2018).

17. Great Elephant Census. Great Elephant Census Final Result. See http://www.greatelephantcensus.com/final-report (accessed 6 February 2018).

Science: tackling the illegal wildlife trade 13 INTERVENTION ONE

Image © Pierre-Yves Babelon.

14 Science: tackling the illegal wildlife trade INTERVENTION ONE

Risk profiling through interrogation of shipping documentation

Big data analysis, and forms of artificial Science and technology intelligence including machine learning, can Technologies are already being deployed be used by border agencies to analyse trade to analyse trade documentation (see case documents to predict and determine illegal study 3). These include: wildlife trade activity with increased accuracy • open ended natural language processing and speed. and optical character recognition – to convert unstructured or semi-structured information in Point of intervention electronic or paper form to useable datasets; Trade flows across borders rely on effective risk assessment. This allows the smooth • artificial intelligence techniques including passage of legitimate trade consignments while machine learning methods – applied to ensuring there is a high probability that cargoes analyse substantial volumes of data at high containing illicit goods, whether live animals speeds (replicating techniques for detecting or products, will be further investigated. Risk irregularities in financial transactions); and analysis of trade documents, such as shipping • open source material – available to assist manifests, customs declarations and business analysis of particular risks, such as so-called invoices, enables border agencies to decide ‘dual use’ components in making gun parts. how to allocate staff resources; when to seek further information or advice on a particular consignment; and whether to subject goods The World Customs Organisation encourages to physical inspection. and supports member countries to implement a Cargo Targeting System that focuses on Basic text scanning can be allied with more advance receipt and analysis of shipping sophisticated machine learning techniques manifest documentation and a systems to read documents, identify anomalies approach, built on electronic documentation and flag concerns. This could substantially and risk profiling. This system allows manifests reduce the scope for human errors arising to be sent electronically from the port of from fatigue, overwork or susceptibility to departure to the port of entry to allow more time corruption and free up border officials’ time for analysis during transit. The International Air for other investigatory purposes. Case study 2 Transport Association and the CITES secretariat illustrates this approach. also lead initiatives to increase the uptake of electronic documents, such as e-permitting. Electronic documents significantly reduce fraud by separating documentation from physical goods, enabling machine analysis and inhibiting falsification of documents.

Science: tackling the illegal wildlife trade 15 INTERVENTION ONE

CASE STUDY 2

Detect IT – Fish

TRAFFIC, World Wide Fund for Nature The tool brings high level transparency and (WWF) and Hewlett Packard Enterprise have can be used by: developed an automated tool using publicly • governments in policy initiatives around available import and export data (mass and particular wildlife goods or trade routes; value) to highlight potentially illegal fish trade. Detect IT: Fish provides an automated • border/fisheries agencies as intelligence comparison of fisheries trade data between to investigate trade anomalies; and countries, identifying discrepancies in • NGOs and civil society in targeting reported import and export data to highlight their work. potential trade in illegal products.

The tool has already highlighted anomalies in abalone and lobster exports from South Africa to the Far East that are now under investigation by TRAFFIC alongside South African and neighbouring border authorities.

For further details see detect.trade

CASE STUDY 3

Analysing shipping documentation to detect illegal aquatic wildlife

The Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life Working prototypes of handheld scanning at the New England Aquarium and Roger devices using the software have utilised Williams University have developed software information for around 40,000 marine to electronically scan shipping documents species. The devices have received positive related to aquatic cargoes. Use of analysis feedback from wildlife inspectors, both from around 30,000 previous shipments for the speed and efficiency of document enables machine learning to flag anomalies processing in practical border situations and based on criteria such as price, weight and for their user-friendly information interface country of origin. and alert system.

16 Science: tackling the illegal wildlife trade INTERVENTION ONE

More advanced risk profiling and machine However, when applied to the large number analysis of trade documentation is routinely of trade transactions, even a very small used by UK border forces for all incoming percentage of anomalies unconnected cargoes. This includes natural language with illicit cargo would generate many false processing and machine learning approaches positives that could be indistinguishable from to detect suspect cargoes, including those the signals generated by illegal trafficking. containing illegal wildlife goods. Substantive This might be ameliorated by integration of debriefs follow all customs seizures and are information, for instance the combination of a key part of the risk management system, analysis of sensor data with manifest analysis helping to understand changing practices of to expose mismatches. illicit goods traffickers and tailor intelligence approaches to disrupt them. Machine-based techniques could be piloted in relation to illegal wildlife goods by Barriers and opportunities interested parties including governments, Technological approaches enabling border agencies, businesses, international deeper analysis of shipping documentation organisations and NGOs. Successful aspects require substantial investment in both of that pilot could be applied more widely to hardware and personnel. Such systems other types of illicit cargo such as weapons also need to be maintained and upgraded or revenue avoidance. Equally, systems as the trade evolves. developed to analyse trade documents at speed and volume might find other commercial Algorithmic approaches to trade document or social uses such as in establishing patterns analysis require historic information on and anomalies in health care returns or legitimate trade and illegal wildlife seizures survey information. to develop training sets for machine learning systems to enable them to successfully identify Conclusion anomalies. Creating banks of data specifically Much of the technology and scientific on illegal wildlife trade is entirely feasible, understanding to improve risk assessment but highly resource intensive. There are also based on trade document analysis is already very practical limitations. As an example, while available. Software programs to enable there are developed taxonomic databases for algorithmic risk evaluation, assisted by optical wildlife, these are not replicated in terms of character recognition, are currently used species detail by the Harmonised System (an in a variety of settings, both at borders and internationally standardised system to classify in other domains. There is, however, scope traded products) or other approaches to to apply electronic documentation analysis trade classification. more consistently and to expand risk profiling internationally. There is also an opportunity There is also the potential to generate large to think creatively about strengthening risk numbers of false positives from algorithmic analysis by extending more sophisticated analysis. Machine learning and game theory strategies to a wider suite of documentary approaches have been trialled in environments or electronic evidence, such as financial with limited variables, for instance, in open documentation or even social media. country to predict poacher behaviour and inform enforcement approaches by rangers.

Science: tackling the illegal wildlife trade 17 INTERVENTION TWO

Image © donvictorio.

18 Science: tackling the illegal wildlife trade INTERVENTION TWO

Smart shipping container technologies

Novel design and inbuilt computers, beacons Science and technology and sensors connected to the internet of Key challenges arise as a consequence of things can make shipping containers ‘smarter’ the shipping container environment itself. – more secure and able to detect illegal Sensors have to be able to detect materials wildlife products inside. throughout the sizeable interior volume of the container. The shipping vessel and Point of intervention surrounding containers create an almost Shipping containers reduce the cost of freight impenetrable Faraday cage inhibiting wireless by enabling end-to-end transport of cargoes, communication. Also, durable power sources by sea, road or rail18. They play a ubiquitous are needed for an independent power supply, role in global trade supply routes: around 20 perhaps through lithium-ion batteries or by million containers transport $4 trillion worth of harvesting power from the environment. goods across the world each year, accounting for 90% of global trade19. Commercially available containers already use sensors to provide continuous information on The growth of ‘smart shipping containers’, their location, temperature and humidity. (see driven by commercial pressures, could have a case study 4). Theoretically, smart container role in detecting illegal wildlife goods. Recent sensors could be configured to detect or advances include sensors delivering real- track any particular type of wildlife species for time information about the whereabouts and which there was a unique signature identifier. contents of a container and enhanced physical Carbon dioxide sensors are already deployed security through smart design. The use of in container environments to test for breathing smart shipping containers to tackle the illegal and more advanced sensors are being wildlife trade depends on the uptake of such developed that could detect chemicals or containers in the marketplace. movement within containers.

Containers could also be equipped with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) sensors, already widely available to protect goods in stores, to provide alerts to the presence of tagged illegal wildlife goods.

18. Gittens R. 2006 How the invention of a box changed our world. The Sydney Morning Herald. 12 June 2006. See https://www.smh.com.au/business/how-the-invention-of-a-box-changed-our-world-20060612-gdnqf0.html (accessed 24 September 2018).

19. Secure Systems. SecureSystem® Brings Patented Smart Shipping Container Technology to North America. See https://www. securesystem.net/securesystem-brings-patented-smart-shipping-container-technology-north-america/ (accessed 24 September 2018).

Science: tackling the illegal wildlife trade 19 INTERVENTION TWO

CASE STUDY 4

Maersk ‘reefer’ containers

The global transport and logistics company, supply. Data from the sensors are relayed Maersk, is the world’s largest transporter via a proprietary communication system on of ‘reefer’ (refrigerated) containers. It has board Maersk vessels using GSM 2G and introduced a reefer technology known as antennae. The technology allows customers Remote Container Management (RCM) to monitor their cargo in real time and alerts whereby sensors installed inside the Maersk onshore support teams whenever the container enable remote monitoring of the conditions inside a container change or the container’s location, temperature and power reefer malfunctions.

In terms of physical security, sensors are fitted Technologies are being trialled to investigate to some containers to detect whether or not it potential security breaches at containers has been entered. More complex digital locking parked in railway sidings using inspection devices are also available which, through drones whose launch is triggered by smart password protection, enable containers to container alarms which provide precise record where, when and by whom a container location coordinates. Such automated security was entered. functions are invisible to criminals and can be maintained in place, requiring minimal human CakeBoxx Technologies20 have developed a intervention. The open platforms needed ‘door-less’ solution to prevent unauthorised to share the required information between entry to containers. Containers using the system commercial, security and enforcement consist of a flat open plate, with access on agencies could be developed from existing all sides to facilitate loading, on to which a lid systems as patterns in routes, cargoes and (including the container’s sides) is lowered (like individual carriers or businesses are already a cake box) by crane or forklift truck. This means analysed for commercial reasons, such as to illicit items cannot be removed or inserted from compare cargo prices. If shared with border the container in most transport and storage authorities, such information could be used situations as it is impractical to lift the lid before to enhance risk analysis, potentially linked to the final destination is reached. algorithmic analysis of trade documents to highlight suspect cargoes.

20. See http://cakeboxx-technologies.com/about/ (accessed 12 February 2018)

20 Science: tackling the illegal wildlife trade INTERVENTION TWO

Barriers and opportunities Conclusion A principal barrier to the use of smart shipping For smart shipping containers to be more containers in disrupting illegal wildlife trade widely adopted they need to be tailored is the limited extent of market penetration of to the practices of carriers, shipping lines such containers. Illegal wildlife traffickers can and the commercial pressures driving the simply use containers that are not protected evolution of trade. Smart shipping containers by smart detectors. represent a longer-term opportunity to stem the illegal wildlife trade. There may, however, Factors that might drive commercial uptake be circumstances, such as the investigation of smart shipping containers include: visibility of specific trade routes or wildlife cargoes, for just-in-time delivery; information to where the existing technologies can assist deal with insurance issues; and assurance law enforcement agencies. regarding container contents for health and safety purposes. Smart containers may become prevalent where high value goods are being sent to high risk destinations or for goods that have stringent health or regulatory controls, such as refrigerated food or pharmaceuticals. Additionally, if border authorities saw the extra security provided by smart containers as a contributory factor in granting fast-track clearance of goods, this will drive industry uptake.

Taking smart shipping containers into the realm of genuinely innovative internet of things solutions requires substantial development of the architecture for sharing and analysing data. This includes platforms for sharing data between sources. It also raises governance issues related to the security, ownership and value of information.

Science: tackling the illegal wildlife trade 21 INTERVENTION THREE

Image © jezphotos.

22 Science: tackling the illegal wildlife trade INTERVENTION THREE

Optical recognition approaches

A range of advanced text and optical image Science and technology search and recognition techniques, allied to Greater speed, accuracy and expanded data artificial intelligence and machine learning can banks (to train machines) are enabling optical be employed to detect illegal wildlife goods recognition and machine learning techniques at borders, to track the movement of poachers to be deployed in fields as diverse as medical through protected areas or to disrupt illegal imagery and self-driving vehicles. Examples online wildlife marketing. of applications to tackle wildlife crime include the following. Point of intervention Optical recognition approaches can be Detecting wildlife signifiers at border posts systematically deployed to tackle the illegal These techniques could be utilised at the wildlife trade, at the border, in the field and border. For instance, data already captured in the wider marketplace. The range of on scanners used to detect weapons in techniques includes: automatic text analysis passenger baggage could be subjected online; high-speed analysis of images to high speed optical recognition analysis produced by scanning equipment at borders; to identify wildlife signifiers such as bones. and more sophisticated deep learning Critically, such interventions could be designed techniques to identify images of humans and to increase the effectiveness of existing wildlife in the field or online (see case study 5). border infrastructure rather than requiring the installation of substantial new hardware, although this could still be resource intensive and would need to align with other priorities.

CASE STUDY 5

Development of optical recognition technologies

The Zoological Society of London and The collaboration has included the Google have been collaborating to create development of Cloud Auto ML Vision, which image recognition models that can be aims to democratise artificial intelligence highly accurate in identifying wildlife and by allowing organisations and individuals humans from the thousands of camera trap with limited machine learning expertise to images captured in the field. A platform and train their own advanced image recognition algorithms have been developed to speed models for their own use regardless of up processing from months to just seconds. their technological knowledge. The project aims to make these models accessible The partnership is working to optimise to anyone from anywhere, and available these recognition models so that they can for use by any implementing partner and be downloaded and embedded on lower solution developer. power imaging devices to detect illegal activity in the field. This means that wildlife A key barrier is the cost of Google’s tools to populations and movements can be easily implementing partners. Credits are required monitored and law enforcement teams to host and run advanced models and while alerted if poachers are spotted. these have been waived for some, they present big barriers to others who could benefit from these advanced technologies.

Science: tackling the illegal wildlife trade 23 INTERVENTION THREE

CASE STUDY 6

Enforcement Gaps Interface

New York University and partners have Compared to human searches, the system applied data mining approaches (natural has been shown to generate far higher hit language processing and machine learning) rates of illegal wildlife sites and at far greater to identify gaps in enforcement in the internet speed. Slightly reduced levels of accuracy wildlife trade. A computational model mines in searches can be remedied by final human nearly a hundred commercial sites for CITES review. The project will provide illegal wildlife Appendix I listed fauna (699 species of trafficking and marketing information through protected wildlife). Critical to the project a secure interface to enforcement agencies has been interdisciplinary working between to target their investigations. computer and environmental scientists. For further details see wildlifecrimetech.org/winners

In-field detection of illegal activity and Detecting illegal wildlife goods online wildlife movements Data science can already be used on a Image recognition tools are currently being massive scale to search for marketing or used to process data feeds from a range trade of illegal wildlife goods online. Case of camera imaging devices, from thermal study 6 illustrates how such techniques are imagery, to camera traps, to radar. Machine currently being applied in a pilot project. learning systems are being used to give law Application of such search approaches to enforcement teams real-time intelligence analyse images is more complex. Illegal on illegal activity in protected areas. Image wildlife goods are diverse in nature including recognition algorithms can quickly analyse live animals, fur, teeth, claws, skin, furniture the vast amount of optical data coming in from and medicines. More advanced technologies surveillance streams and give teams an early need to be used alongside image recognition warning of any threats so they can respond. to avoid an excessive burden of returns The algorithms can differentiate between relating to legitimate retail items. Convolutional wildlife and human presence. This helps neural networks, a type of machine learning, small teams understand where the wildlife is are one means by which relatively little pre- positioned and potential intrusions so they processing or prior knowledge can build finely can target resources effectively. honed algorithms.

24 Science: tackling the illegal wildlife trade INTERVENTION THREE

So-called ‘social machines’ engage individuals Algorithms designed to detect illegal wildlife as ‘sensors’ to achieve impact at scale through goods through image recognition will be their wide geographical spread and networks. met with photographs in black and white, Data enrichment approaches, such as shot in poor lighting conditions or distorted providing annotations and context on images by reflections intended to defeat the web received, can help to reduce erroneous or scraper technologies. Continuous support and misleading data inputs and intuitive user development will be required to adapt, update interfaces enable extensive participation. and refine machine-driven approaches. Social machines could generate sizeable photographic libraries to act as training sets For in-field detection the key barrier is to improve the accuracy of image recognition the number of false positives arising from models in detecting illicit goods. application of some recognition tools. This leads to false alarms and operational fatigue. Barriers and opportunities The challenge is being overcome as optical Optical recognition technologies will only help recognition models are becoming more halt wildlife crime if the results lead to action. advanced and accurate. This is helped by the For instance, research indicates that there are aggregation and application of more training low levels of activity related to the illegal trade data. However this is still costly to host and of wildlife on the dark web21, contrasting with models can be expensive. open and increasing trade on the surface web. This may show limited interest or incentive to Conclusion remove the trade from mainstream websites. A range of image recognition technologies, Equally stark, state of the art scanning including text and image searches and web technology is of no avail against illicit traffic scrapers, are capable of being deployed now when sensors are bypassed through corruption. against online marketing of illegal wildlife goods. The information derived can be used Application of sophisticated image recognition to disrupt online trade by enabling authorities techniques at the border requires substantial to take enforcement action or online service investment in infrastructure. Even where providers to curtail marketing activities. In it is possible to build on existing border slightly longer time horizons, advanced infrastructure, such as scanning and X-ray analysis and machine learning tools could be devices, there are risks of undermining border used on image data generated by existing priorities, notably security. border infrastructure. It is more difficult to envisage practical deployment of computer Additionally, such innovations typically lead to vision and deep learning techniques at the a cycle of technological deployments followed border which are more suited to wildlife by attempts by traffickers to circumvent them. population observation in the field.

21. Harrison JR, Roberts DL & Hernandez-Castro J. 2016 Assessing the extent and nature of wildlife trade on the dark web. Conservation Biology. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/cobi.12707 (accessed 6 February 2018).

Science: tackling the illegal wildlife trade 25 INTERVENTION FOUR

Image © akramer.

26 Science: tackling the illegal wildlife trade INTERVENTION FOUR

Development of biological and chemical identification capability for use in the field

Devices that are smaller, more portable, faster, As well as the benefits for rapid testing at easier to use and cheaper than today’s can be the border, this intervention could ultimately developed to improve law enforcement efforts provide rapid testing of evidence at wildlife by providing faster intelligence and detection. crime scenes, and for trading standards. To achieve this goal, devices need to be highly Point of intervention portable, robust and affordable to ensure they Field collection of samples is a vital step in the can be immediately available to enforcement process of preserving evidence and acquiring officers who might require them. a presumptive test22 to identify species that may be traded illegally. Identification Science and technology techniques typically associated with laboratory There are a number of different scientific analysis, such as handheld devices capable techniques that might be used and developed of DNA analysis, are being developed for for field use. The following examples are by forensic testing in the field. Many of these no means exhaustive but rather illustrate the technologies are not new but there are range of potential technologies at various opportunities for those in the early stages of stages of development. development, or not typically used in wildlife crime, to be applied across a targeted range The ParaDNA system developed by LGC labs of traded species and at various points in the is a portable DNA detection device typically system including crime scenes, at point of sale, used in crime scene forensics to identify or border control. human samples. The device is easy to use for non-experts and uses a direct Polymerase There is potential for significant impact if Chain Reaction (PCR) approach. It analyses handheld and portable technologies could a small amount of a sample by copying the be harnessed and used for a wide array of DNA within it until there is enough to read. species. The greatest benefit is likely to be the Whilst such devices are not new, the system ability to hamper illegal trade whilst allowing sets new standards in speed and ease of legal trade to continue. Border officials and identification23. The system is already used others would be able to quickly discern illegal for field testing though not yet for the illegal products from legal ones when examining wildlife trade. However, a proof of concept consignments, providing the ability to make study has demonstrated that the system could faster decisions, although there might be the correctly identify 92.7% of cod samples used need for extensive training if a wide variety in highly processed food samples as being of tools are used. from a single species24.

22. A presumptive test establishes whether a sample is not a suspected substance or if the sample probably is the suspected substance. Presumptive tests will generally still need to be followed by confirmatory tests.

23. For further information see: https://www.lgcgroup.com/cn/products/paradna-technology/paradna-field-portable-instrument/#.W6f8OEVKg_U

24. Dawnay, N. et al. 2016 Species detection using HyBeacon1 probe technology: Working towards rapid onsite testing in non-human forensic and food authentication applications. Forensic Science International: Genetics, 20, 103-111.

Science: tackling the illegal wildlife trade 27 INTERVENTION FOUR

It could be developed to carry out presumptive Electronic Noses (e-noses) are handheld tests for a suite of species, for example to devices that use sensors to mimic a dogs’ test for endangered species being offered olfactory system to identify chemical odours. in traditional medicines. For each new The University of Technology in Sydney (UTS) application a developmental phase would are developing the devices to be rapid and be required to set up the system and add easy to use, though they are at least five the relevant reference data to the software. years from deployment. UTS has created a This developmental phase takes around a prototype but it has not yet been developed year from the laboratory level to the provision and validated for use in the field. It is hoped of the assay. the device will be able to distinguish between species and items. Sensitivity is currently the Oxford Nanopore Technologies have biggest challenge, as generally speaking, developed a mobile phone sized DNA the greater the sensitivity the less portable sequencer, the MinION, which determines the the device becomes. Nanosensors could order of the four chemical building blocks in represent one way to increase sensitivity and a DNA chain by the characteristic fluctuation they are in the early stages of investigation27. each induces in an electric current as they pass sequentially through a nanoscale pore. Barriers and opportunities Species are identified by comparing the DNA Many of the barriers, downsides and risks are sequence to a validated reference database. technology specific, for instance the reliance The single method applied using this device of e-noses on adequate sensitivity. However, can identify a broad range of species, and there are a variety of common barriers that uses an existing global database of DNA exist across these technologies. from over 250,000 species25. To use the MinION, various protocols must be applied The technologies, whilst adapted for field using components that require different use, only provide presumptive rather than temperatures so it is predominantly currently confirmatory tests and unless field tests are used in labs. However, components that are 100% accurate, lab confirmation tests will still able to withstand ambient temperatures are need to be carried out, as with any forensic being developed for field use. The MinION can science28. Similarly, no technologies can identify fit in a pocket, is relatively low cost and whilst a species without sufficient reference data, current protocols require additional equipment which requires the collection of samples for and a degree of expertise, the process is comparison, stored in reliable and sharable being simplified with the aim of allowing reference databases. International efforts to anyone to use it in any location with minimal generate a comprehensive robust database extra equipment or training26. The timescale of species identifying DNA sequences are to reach this level of refinement is likely to be continuing apace and will soon cover most several years. species of relevance to the illegal wildlife trade.

25. For further information see: http://www.barcodinglife.org/

26. For further information see https://nanoporetech.com/products/minion

27. For further information see https://web-tools.uts.edu.au/projects/detail.cfm?ProjectId=2015001376

28. Tests typically require a benchmark of 95% accuracy to be classed as diagnostic.

28 Science: tackling the illegal wildlife trade INTERVENTION FOUR

All forensic technologies require significant Conclusion validation. This is the key for field devices and There are many opportunities to develop the examples given demonstrate the need for technologies for identification capability in real-world validation to identify a threshold of the field. It is likely that a variety of tools or acceptability. Validation can be a lengthy and techniques will be needed to identify one or time-consuming process. more species, at different points in the system, and across different environments. The priority Device users, such as border staff, are may be to understand the exact needs of the often overburdened with the number of users and in doing so create devices that are technologies in which they might need to be smaller, faster, easier to use and cheaper than trained. Training non-experts, whether border today’s, as well as sufficiently validated with a force or crime scene investigators, can also cache of reliable reference data. require significant resources. This raises additional questions about the standardisation of training programmes and the level of knowledge and expertise needed for good evidence collection. Standards and quality control can be compromised if people are not sufficiently trained in using tools appropriately to gain quality results. There are a number of programmes that train non-experts to use equipment in the field, though as with any new technologies training and dissemination takes time.

Economies of scale can push down costs for handheld and portable devices, though costs can be quite high in the early stages for new technologies.

Science: tackling the illegal wildlife trade 29 INTERVENTION FIVE

Image © lcswart.

30 Science: tackling the illegal wildlife trade INTERVENTION FIVE

Environmental isotope analysis

Deeper understanding of the relationship The underlying techniques are generally well between the environment and the chemical established but new applications specific to composition of organisms can be used to the illegal wildlife trade will require further obtain intelligence on their geographical research and demonstration. Already, stable origins and age, useful for law enforcement. isotope analysis for geographic tracing has been applied to plant and animal species Point of intervention including orchids, cycads31, and crocodile Isotope analysis has been applied widely lizards32. Radioactive isotope analysis is useful in human forensics to advance criminal in determining the age of animal species that investigations and in the food industry to have parts amenable to this technique, such authenticate the origin of food products such as elephant tusks33. as wine and meat. This approach is based on two principles: first, different environments Isotope studies may also be well suited to have predictable isotopic signatures, stable or certain places in the trafficking chain. First, radioactive, and second, these signatures are where illegal specimens have been seized, embedded into the tissues of organisms through stable isotope studies might provide insights their diets29. Samples of tissue (such as hair, into their origin, while radioactive isotope feathers, tusks and leaves) may be analysed for dating might establish how long ago they different isotopic markers, providing valuable were obtained. (see case study 7). Second, information on their history. For example, the stable isotopes may be applied to test claims movement of Atlantic salmon has been traced by of origin within ‘legal’ wildlife supply chains looking at the ratio of the chemicals strontium 87 to ensure they are not in fact being used to to strontium 86 in the ears (otoliths)30. trade illegal wildlife.

CASE STUDY 7

IvoryID

IvoryID is applying both stable and The website includes a free and readily radioactive isotope analysis in the fight accessible reference database of over 700 against elephant poaching and the illegal samples of ivory from African and Asian ivory trade. It utilises stable isotope methods elephant range states, and was handed validated by researchers from WWF Germany over to the international CITES community and works with partners from the University at COP 17 in 2016. of Regensburg who analyse radioactive isotopes to determine the age of ivory. For further details see ivoryid.org/

29. Rubenstein DR & Hobson K. 2004 From birds to butterflies: animal movement patterns and stable isotopes. TRENDS in Ecology and Evolution 19, 1, 256-263.

30. Barnett-Johnson R et al. 2008 Tracking natal origins of salmon using isotopes, otoliths, and landscape geology. Limnology and Oceanography., 53(4), 1633–1642.

31. Retief K, West A & Pfab M. 2014 Can Stable Isotopes and Radiocarbon Dating provide a forensic solution for curbing illegal harvesting of threatened cycads, Journal of Forensic Sciences 59, 6,. 1541-1551.

32. van Schingen M et al. 2016 Can isotope markers differentiate between wild and captive reptile populations? A case study based on crocodile lizards (Shinisaurus crocodilurus) from Vietnam. Global Ecology and Conservation, 6, 232-241.

33. Cerling T et al. 2016 Radiocarbon dating of seized ivory confirms rapid decline in African elephant populations and provides insight into illegal trade, PNAS, 1-6.

Science: tackling the illegal wildlife trade 31 INTERVENTION FIVE

Science and technology Some stable isotope applications utilise the Isotopes are atoms of one element with the distinct isotopic signatures of certain locations same number of protons but differing number to infer origin of species34, while others apply of neutrons. They may be stable, such as the variance of sample isotopic signatures to carbon-12, 12C, or unstable/radioactive, such differentiate between wild and captive-bred as carbon-14, 14C. Isotope analysis often uses organisms35. In the latter case, the generally a mass spectrometer to measure the ratio of widely varied diets of wild organisms are different isotopes in a sample. The isotopes distinguishable from the more restrictive are ionised through the loss of electrons to diets of captive-bred specimens. electrically charge them, allowing them to be deflected by a magnetic field. A difference in Radioactive dating is based on the mass causes the lighter ions to deflect more than predictable decay of radioactive elements the heavier ones, separating them and allowing and has been used to date samples over the presence of different isotopes in the sample thousands of years, by using known reference to be measured, see figure 4. isotope ratios. One such reference applied to the illegal wildlife trade is the spike of Stable isotope studies are useful in 14C in the atmosphere in the 20th century. geographic tracing of samples and have Since then, the ratio of 14C /12C has steadily the potential to work in most environments declined, as represented in figure 4. Using provided there is sufficient isotopic variation. this reference, the age of a sample can be The isotopic signatures of plants generally deduced by analysing its 14C content36. show stronger correlation to their environment because they do not move in contrast Alongside ‘passive’ tracing of environmental to animals. Organism isotopic signatures isotopes there are also more ‘active’ also tend to move further from the original applications that involve tagging of wildlife environmental signature the higher up or wildlife parts by deliberately changing they sit in the food chain – with carnivores their isotopic signatures. The precision, as experiencing larger shifts than herbivores. well as social and ecological implications of these methods are not well understood and Different stable isotopes convey different would require further research to verify their information, for example: safety for use. • Carbon and hydrogen – organism interactions with their environment (ecology) • Nitrogen – aridity (dryness) • Oxygen – temperature • Sulphur – proximity to the ocean • Strontium – underlying geology on which plants grow.

34. Bowen G, Wassenaar L & Hobson K. 2005 Global application of stable hydrogen and oxygen isotope to wildlife forensics. Oecologia, 143, 337-348.

35. van Schingen, M. et al. 2016. Can isotope markers differentiate between wild and captive reptile populations? A case study based on crocodile lizards (Shinisaurus crocodilurus) from Vietnam. Global Ecology and Conservation, 6, 232-241.

36. The 14C spike is from historical atmospheric nuclear testing.

32 Science: tackling the illegal wildlife trade INTERVENTION FIVE

figure 4

How a mass spectrometer works.

MAGNETIC FIELD DETECTOR

Ions accelerated towards detector High mass

Low mass

Source: gcsescience.com/f29.htm

Science: tackling the illegal wildlife trade 33 INTERVENTION FIVE

Barriers and opportunities to be robust and easily usable by local Implementation of isotope analysis requires enforcement teams. Ideally, a device would the development of comprehensive global be small, precise, robust, portable and reference databases – a substantial data affordable, particularly as cost remains a major collection effort that might be initiated by barrier for the use of these techniques by law targeting priority areas. These databases enforcement agencies. It might be simpler to should be freely accessible and searchable, engineer such an instrument that focused on and developments in big data analytics only one or two isotopes. might further aid their development and maintenance37. While stable isotope analysis can provide insights about the geographical origin of Current developments utilising both physical samples, the technique is not precise because measurements and simulations to model several geographical areas may share isotopic signatures over large geographic similar isotopic signatures. Precision may be areas known as isoscapes may improve the improved through combination with other prospects for developing such reference types of tracing, and users should have an databases38. Isoscapes reduce the number understanding of the limitations of this method. of physical samples required, and are a useful Practitioners would have to adhere to strict tool for visualising isotope variations over standards for the results of these techniques large areas. to be used as evidence in court.

Isotope analysis uses specialist equipment Radioisotope dating using 14C may only like mass spectrometers that are expensive be possible until around 2035, after which and which require stable power supplies radiocarbon from the 14C spike will have and temperature control. These may not be decayed to very small values. Thereafter this available in some developing countries where method may need to rely on new or more wildlife trafficking is prevalent, hence requiring sensitive techniques. partnerships with more developed countries where samples can be tested. However this Conclusion may be complicated by CITES rules which Environmental isotope analysis presents prohibit movements of certain materials. opportunities for tackling the illegal wildlife trade both now and in the future as the Spectrometers for detecting light isotopes, science is developing and the techniques such as carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen will improve. Stable isotope analysis might and sulphur, are often somewhat more be useful in differentiating between wild and affordable and easily deployed than those captive-bred samples while radioactive isotope used to detect heavier isotopes. Portable analysis might provide information into when devices are currently available from some samples were harvested. The development manufacturers but they are generally less of reference geographic databases of stable precise than lab-based instruments, as well isotopes, facilitated by recent developments as requiring power that is often supplied in isotope variation modelling, would further through batteries in the field, and needing enable the application of this technique.

37. Pauli JN et al. 2017 Opinion: Why we need a centralized repository for isotopic data. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 114, 2997-3001.

38. Bowen GJ & West JB. 2008 Isotope landscapes for terrestrial migration research. In: Hobson KA & Wassenaar LI (eds) Tracking Animal Migration with Stable Isotopes, Amsterdam: Elsevier.

34 Science: tackling the illegal wildlife trade conclusions

Conclusions

The tools described in this briefing offer rich Wildlife crime as a technological test bed opportunities to combat the illegal wildlife Limited resources are available to stop trade. While none represent a comprehensive wildlife crime. It is not the business of solution, each could make an important most corporations and only one of many contribution if developed and deployed in a responsibilities for governments. However, context-sensitive manner. In researching the the challenges posed by the trade can serve areas of science and technology presented, as test beds for technologies with much wider four cross cutting themes emerged that commercial or public application. For example, could help make the interventions identified digital risk profiling of shipping documentation more successful: could be used to stop many different sorts of smuggling. This has parallels with the Accessible, affordable innovation and fit-for- successful development of the predictive text purpose products system found in millions of mobile devices The illegal wildlife trade often takes place in before smartphones, which was developed complex settings with limited resources or alongside more niche work on eye tracking harsh environments such as isolated border products for people with disabilities40. posts or busy ports. In such circumstances technologies need to be affordable, reliable, Digital infrastructure and global technology easy to use and tailored to their environment39. platforms Users should be involved in development The recent rapid growth in digital technologies from an early stage, and provided with training has been accompanied by the creation of and continuous long-term support. New global digital infrastructure and technology technologies also need to be integrated into platforms. These can provide access to free existing operations, their rollout supported resources that can help stop wildlife crime and interventions fashioned so that evidence such as global positioning through satellites, and data can be correctly collected. While instant messaging and cloud computing. Global there is a strong need for simple yet innovative digital networks potentially allow developing solutions, there is also a place for more countries to draw upon previously inaccessible sophisticated approaches that may become digital capabilities from elsewhere, providing more widely available over time as research the right basic infrastructure is in place41. and economies of scale make technologies Citizens too have a role in helping to develop more accessible. and implement technological interventions through digital means, as demonstrated by the work of WildLab.net using images. (see box 2).

39. See for example SMART conservation software that has been refined, supported and promoted by nine implementation partners: http://smartconservationtools.org/

40. Ganapati P. 2010 T9 predictive text inventor dies. Wired. 24 September 2010. See http://www.wired.co.uk/article/t9-predictive-text- inventor-dies (accessed 6 February 2018).

41. Economist. 2017 What technology can do for Africa. See https://www.economist.com/news/special-report/21731038-technology-africa- making-huge-advances-says-jonathan-rosenthal-its-full (accessed 6 February 2018).

Science: tackling the illegal wildlife trade 35 conclusions

Open data and databases Rapid recent scientific and technological To analyse shipping manifests or images, advances across many fields from digital machine learning systems need to be trained to DNA profiling have opened a wealth of on large pools of examples, while reference possibilities for tackling wildlife trafficking. databases are required for many chemical Considerable progress has already been sensing and identification techniques to made through the hard work of NGOs, work. In some cases data exists but is not academia, industry, governments, citizens and easily accessible and in others it has yet to others. In identifying the interventions in this be collected. One study found that only 5% briefing, the Society hopes to showcase some of datasets meet a ‘gold standard’ needed further potential gains while recognising that for effective biodiversity conservation42. these are only part of the solution to what is a The development of new and emerging complex problem. A number of technologies, technologies to help tackle the illegal wildlife such as detection of environmental radioactive trade would be enhanced through better isotopes in ivory, are closer to deployment collection, storage and sharing of secure data, than others, such as smart shipping containers. as well as accessible, secure and curated If properly tailored to the environment and databases. Such progress would also help users, the technologies covered here present us to better understand the trade. powerful additions to the toolkit for stopping wildlife crime.

42. Joppa LN et al. 2016 Filling in biodiversity threat gaps. Science, 352, 6284, 416-418.

36 Science: tackling the illegal wildlife trade APPENDIX

Appendix

Chair

Chair Professor Andy Hopper CBE FRS FREng, Treasurer, Royal Society

Review panel This report has been reviewed by seven independent experts. The Review Panel members were not asked to endorse the conclusions of the report, but to act as independent referees of the technical content and presentation. Panel members acted in a personal capacity. The Royal Society gratefully acknowledges the contribution of the reviewers.

Reviewers Professor Alan Bundy CBE FRS FREng, Professor of Automated Reasoning, School of Informatics, University of Edinburgh Guy Clarke, Borderforce Sir Steven Cowley FRS FREng, President, Corpus Christi College, University of Oxford Grant Miller, Borderforce Senior Officer, Borderforce Sophie Maxwell, Conservation Technology Lead, Zoological Society of London Dr James Scott, Senior Researcher, Microsoft Dr Lucy Webster, Senior Molecular Biologist – Wildlife DNA Forensics, Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture

Science: tackling the illegal wildlife trade 37 APPENDIX

Acknowledgements This project would also not have been possible without contributions from a range of individuals through interviews, workshops and roundtables. We wish to particularly thank:

Acknowledgements Sir David Attenborough OM CH CVO CBE FRS Professor Dame Sue Black, Professor of Anatomy and Forensic Anthropology, University of Dundee (until July 2018) Professor Richard Catlow FRS, Foreign Secretary, Royal Society Naomi Doak, Head of Conservation Programmes, United for Wildlife Dr Tim Harrison, Science Teacher, Farlingaye High School Professor Alex Kacelnik FRS, Professor of Behavioural Ecology, University of Oxford

Royal Society staff Many staff at the Royal Society contributed to the production of this briefing. The project team are listed below.

Royal Society staff Elizabeth Surkovic, Head of Resilient Futures Laurie Smith, Project Lead and Senior Policy Adviser Mike Edbury, Policy Consultant Jack Pilkington, Policy Adviser Lindsay Taylor, Policy Adviser Amanda Kahunzire, Intern Mia Kett, Intern

38 Science: tackling the illegal wildlife trade

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The Society’s strategic priorities emphasise its commitment to the highest quality science, to curiosity-driven research, and to the development and use of science for the benefit of society. These priorities are: • Promoting excellence in science • Supporting international collaboration • Demonstrating the importance of science to everyone

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