Crime Scene of the Wild, Unveiling the National Wildlife Forensics Lab

The video introduces a unique wildlife crime lab in Ashland, OR, led by Ken Goddard. The lab functions like a police crime lab but focuses on non-human animals, supporting wildlife laws like the Endangered Species Act. The lab tackles the massive illicit wildlife trade, valued at billions annually. Key personnel include Dr. Becky Kagan, a veterinary pathologist who performs animal autopsies; Johnny French, who manages a vast specimen collection; Dr. Mary Curtis, who leads the genetics team for species identification; and Dr. Pepper Trail, an ornithologist who identifies bird evidence. The lab's work is crucial in combating wildlife crime globally.

What is the primary focus of the wildlife crime lab?

• To study animal behavior in the wild

• To identify and link evidence in wildlife crimes

• To train police officers in forensic science

• To conserve endangered plant species

What is the main responsibility of the veterinary pathologist in the lab?

• To perform autopsies on animals to determine cause of death

• To conduct genetic analysis of animal samples

• To manage the lab's specimen collection

• To oversee the lab's financial operations

How does the lab prepare bones for their reference collection?

• By using chemical solvents

• By freezing them

• By boiling them in water

• By placing them in a flesh-eating beetle tank

What is the role of the genetics team in the wildlife crime lab?

• To photograph evidence items

• To identify species from crafted items

• To train new lab technicians

• To conduct field research on wildlife

What is the significance of the ornithologist's work in the lab?

• To study the migration patterns of birds

• To identify bird species from evidence items

• To develop new bird conservation strategies

• To train birds for law enforcement purposes