Wildlife Necropsy and Forensics This book is the result of simultaneous compilation of information on the postmortem examination of wild animals for over 20 years ever since the author attended the summer institute on the pathology of diseases of wildlife at the College of Veterinary Science, Hebbal, Bangalore during May 1979 and also the experience gained while conducting the postmortem examination of wild animals submitted from the S.V.Zoo park at Tirupati. The book is written in 2 parts. In Part I the necropsy procedures in some wild animals along with the procedure for collection and preservation of the collected specimens for diagnostic purposes are given. These procedures are common both to the disease investigation as well as forensic necropsies in wild animals except that the forensic necropsies need more careful examination and collection and preservation of material for diagnostic purposes. In the second part information on the list of various wildlife crimes, the role of each member of wildlife crime team investigation in general and the role of pathologist in particular, the forensic necropsy and collection of evidential items and the methodology for crime investigation is given. Dr. P. K. Sriraman is a retired (Voluntary) Associate professor and Head, Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Science, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad-30 after putting in 29 years of active service involving teaching (both to the undergraduate and post graduates), research and extension activities. Wildlife Necropsy and Forensics P.K.Sriraman Associate Professor and Head (Retd.) Department of Pathology College of Veterinary Science HYDERABAD - 500030 Telengana (India) NARENDRA PUBLISHING HOUSE First published 2021 by CRC Press 2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN and by CRC Press 6000 Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487-2742 © 2021 Narendra Publishing House CRC Press is an imprint of Informa UK Limited The right of P.K. Sriraman to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. Reasonable efforts have been made to publish reliable data and information, but the author and publisher cannot assume responsibility for the validity of all materials or the consequences of their use. The authors and publishers have attempted to trace the copyright holders of all material reproduced in this publication and apologize to copyright holders if permission to publish in this form has not been obtained. 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Print edition not for sale in South Asia (India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan or Bhutan). British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data A catalog record has been requested ISBN: 978-0-367-77596-4 (hbk) ISBN: 978-1-003-17201-7 (ebk) Contents Preface iiv Part I Wildlife Necropsy 1 - 100 1 Introduction 3 2 Collection and Preservation of Biological Specimens 24 3 Necropsy Methods 50 4 Autopsy Report 97 Part II Wildlife Forensics 101 - 305 1 Introduction 103 2 Crimes Against Wildlife 105 3 Forensic Analysis of Wildlife Crimes 116 1. Role of Pathologist 119 2. Role of Morphologist 126 3. Role of Molecular Biologist (Geneticist) 130 4. Role of a Criminalist 135 5. Role of an Analytical Chemist 142 6. Role of the Forensic Specialist / Investigator 147 4 Forensic Necropsy 152 5 Examination of the Wounds 200 6 Types of Firearms and Terminology 241 7 Poisoning 258 8 Record Keeping 269 9 Wildlife Crime Investigation 273 Appendices 306 - 364 Appendix I 306 Appendix II 314 Appendix III 318 Appendix IV 342 Appendix V 352 Appendix VI 353 Appendix VII 354 Appendix VIII 359 Appendix IX 362 Appendix X 363 Index 365 Preface Necropsy (Postmortem examination) of wild animals for legal purposes has become increasingly common. Special procedures are necessary during such necropsies to ensure that the information collected is suitable for use in a court of law. Forensic necropsies should be performed by a trained pathologist who has experience with the species being examined since his credentials will be examined if a case reaches the court of law. Determination of the cause of death in wild animals is often difficult and may require the close co-operation of a number of disciplines. For the diagnostic laboratory to contribute fully to final diagnosis, the specimens collected must be selected carefully and preserved in suitable conditions. Crimes involving wild animals, including the trade in animal parts like gallbladder of bears and paws, and poaching of protected and endangered species have increased in the recent past. There is also increasing interest in establishing the culpabilities for the death of wild animals as a result of pollution or poisons. These developments have resulted in greater need for evidence obtained by the examination of dead wildlife that will be acceptable in the court of law. The book is written in 2 parts. In Part I the necropsy procedures in some wild animals along with the procedure for collection and preservation of specimens for diagnostic purposes are given. These procedures are common both to the disease investigation as well as forensic necropsies in wild animals except that the forensic necropsies need more careful examination and collection and preservation of material for diagnostic purposes. In the second part information on the list of various wildlife crimes, the role of each member of wildlife crime team investigation in general and the role of pathologist in particular, (the forensic veterinary pathology)and the salient features of methodology of crime investigation is given. Information on the mistakes and omissions in forensic necropsy, negative necropsy, common errors committed by pathologist while performing forensic necropsy, postmortem appearances of common pathological conditions and estimation of age of some of the domestic animals and their foetuses is given for guidance. Various types of wounds, and the types of firearms and their terminology are also given for easy understanding about the wounds and fire arms. Hope this book will be of use to all those interested in wildlife preservation and especially to veterinary pathologists who are involved in conducting necropsies pertaining to wildlife crimes, wildlife personnel dealing with the law enforcement, students and teachers in veterinary colleges as well as the students of wildlife school and zoo personnel. Dr. P.K. Sriraman About the Author Dr. P. K. Sriraman is a retired (Voluntary) Associate professor and Head, Department of Pathology, College of Veterinary Science, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad-30 after putting in 29 years of active service involving teaching (both to the undergraduate and post graduates), research and extension activities. The author was direct disciple of Professor Ganti A Sastry, a doyen in the field of veterinary pathology and Dr P. Rama Rao, and also worked with them till their retirement. The author was a recipient of Meritorious research worker award of ANGRA University, Hyderabad (1993), Gold medal for securing highest OGPA in PhD, ICMR Senior fellowship during PhD and “ICAR Merit scholarship during graduate studies. He has guided 27 MVScs and 5 PhD students during his tenure in the Veterinary colleges and published more than 120 research papers in journals of repute. He has authored 5 books. 1. “A guide to postmortem examination of animals” along with a CD ROM containing procedures for Postmortem examination of animals (first of its kind) 2 . “Veterinary laboratory diagnosis”. Published by Jaypee Brothers Medical publishers (P) Ltd, New Delhi. 3. Lecture notes on Veterinary Pathology , 4. Lecture notes on Veterinary special pathology and 5.Diseases of wild animals and birds ( Jaya Publishing House, Delhi).