Fish and Wildlife Forensic Specialists Working to Save Elephants

When California made it illegal to buy and sell ivory, forensic specialists needed to build a complete database to know the exact source of that ivory. To aid in the effort, two scientists from the CDFW Wildlife Forensic Laboratory traveled to Southern California to collect DNA samples from mammoth and mastodon tusks. The more information gathered and logged makes for a stronger database, and that is exactly the tool needed to prosecute ivory poachers, traffickers and collectors to prevent the illegal trade from continuing.

Watch to learn more about the process, meet the team and see what mammoth and mastodon tusks look like.

californiagovernment,